Storms and Excessive Heat in Some Areas of US Could Dampen July 4 Celebrations

Storms on Tuesday in some parts of the U.S. while extreme heat in others could cut short July 4 barbecues and fireworks.

Excessive heat warnings remain in place in many areas across the U.S. and are expected to last at least through Monday.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix is forecasting 116 degrees for Monday and 113 degrees in Las Vegas for Monday.

Temperatures in Southern California could set records with excessive heat warnings and advisories extended through Monday for inland areas east of Los Angeles. Highs well into the triple digits are forecast throughout California’s Central Valley region and the Desert Southwest, possibly setting heat records.

High-temp potential then shifts up the West Coast into northern California and western Oregon where it could reach into the 90s and low 100s on Tuesday.

Very warm and moist air ahead of a low pressure system could bring scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout much of the eastern U.S. Monday.

Areas of heavy rain are possible with chances for flash flooding from the lower Great Lakes to southern New England.

There is a slight chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms into the interior Southeast and Deep South.

The good news for parts of the Deep South is that there will be a slight break from an oppressive heat wave while some areas the heat indices could still approach 105-110 degrees with high temperatures into the mid-90s.

A cold front slowly pushing into the Ohio Valley also will bring drier and cooler air toward the East Coast heading into the 4th of July. 

The chance of showers and thunderstorms generally will decrease through the eastern U.S. on Independence Day.

However, areas from New England and down along the Eastern Seaboard to across the Deep South could see some storms. New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., also could see thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday.

Heavy rains flooded Chicago streets Sunday, trapping cars and forcing NASCAR officials to cancel the last half of a race set to run through the city’s downtown.