US Weather this week: Heavy rainfall, severe weather and relief from the heat

After almost a week of oppressive heat, relief is finally moving into the Central and Eastern US. With that, excessive rainfall will impact southern New England today and the Plains tomorrow. The first full week of July will bring the threat of severe weather across the Plains and excessive rainfall chances across the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and New England. The Southeast continues to see dangerous heat, though relief has come for other parts of the Eastern US. Plenty of rain A quasi-stationary front extending from the Mid-Atlantic to the Ohio Valley, Mid-Mississippi Valley and the Central and Northern Plains will dissipate over the Central and Northern Plains by this afternoon. The frontal boundary settles over the Carolinas and Southern Plains by Wednesday. The system will produce showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain over southern New England today, giving way to a moderate risk of excessive rainfall. Heavy rain will create localized areas of flash flooding with urban areas, roads, small streams and low-lying areas being most prone to flash flooding. Excessive rain will give way to areas of localized flash flooding. A slight risk of excessive rainfall is expected over the Mid-Atlantic into western Pennsylvania today from thunderstorms. Localized areas of flash flooding are expected with urban areas, roads, small streams and low-lying areas most vulnerable, as well as landslides on roads. There is a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains on Tuesday. Associated heavy rain from these thunderstorms will create localized flash flooding with urban areas, roads, small streams and low-lying areas most prone and landslides on roads. Severe weather threat A second front extending from the Northern Plains into the Great Basin moves into the Upper Great Lakes by Wednesday. Showers and severe thunderstorms over the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains through Tuesday morning. A slight risk of severe thunderstorms is in effect over the Northern Plains today. Hazards include frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail and a few tornadoes. There will be a severe weather threat across the Northern Plains this week. As the front moves east, there will be a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains Tuesday through Wednesday morning. Hazards include frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail and a few tornadoes. The boundary moves east on Wednesday, and showers and thunderstorms move into the Upper Great Lakes. Related article Here are the states hardest hit by severe weather this year moving into the middle of summer An influx of moisture over the Great Basin will give way to showers and thunderstorms from late afternoon into late evening Monday and Tuesday. Diurnal heating and moisture will trigger showers and thunderstorms from late afternoon into late evening over the Gulf Coast into Florida. Heat relief The oppressive heat that impacted the Central and Eastern US continues to shrink early this week. Seasonable to below-normal temperatures move into the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley. Cooler air comes with a slow-moving frontal boundary and areas of low pressure will give way to multiple rounds and thunderstorms and showers. The heat continues across the Southeast, however, for the next few days.