Midwest and East Coast Brace for Severe Weather Through Midweek

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to impact the Midwest and Great Lakes on Monday and will bring the potential for damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes.

Rachel Acenas

Published: 7/20/2026, 2:13:31 PM EDT

Midwest and East Coast Brace for Severe Weather Through Midweek — The Pedernales River floods along State Highway 16 in Fredericksburg, Texas, on July 16, 2026. (Joel Angel Juarez/AP Photo)

A powerful storm system is set to unleash multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms, sweeping from the Midwest to the East Coast through midweek.

On top of the storms, the area will continue to suffer from bad air quality due to the Canadian wildfires.

"There is no let up in air quality issues over the next few days downwind of the ongoing Canadian wildfires across western portions of Ontario," NWS said. "The latest smoke models are focusing the highest concentrations of smoke across the Great Lakes today, followed by another shot of smoke moving south on Tuesday across this area in the wake of a strong frontal system pushing east."

Last week, severe weather swept across the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and parts of the Great Lakes. Persistent storms also threatened flash flooding concerns in parts of the central U.S., where heavy rain repeatedly fell over the same areas, including Texas, where a disaster declaration was issued for 59 counties

This week, the highest likelihood of severe weather stretches from portions of the region, including parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana.

According to the NWS, swaths of damaging winds are the greatest concern, with large hail and a few tornadoes also possible in the strongest storms.

By Tuesday, the storm system shifts east, bringing the potential for severe thunderstorms, torrential rain, frequent lightning, and localized flash flooding, especially during the afternoon and evening in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned residents to heed local weather warnings and to stay vigilant.

“Kentucky, we’re expecting severe weather Tuesday, with the possibility of damaging winds, hail and flash flooding – and maybe tornadoes. We’re asking everyone to plan ahead,” Beshear wrote on X. “We’ll share more information on the forecast as available. Let’s do what we can to keep everyone safe.”

Parts of New York are expected to be affected, with the most intense storms from Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night, according to the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

The highest risk is currently across upstate New York, but the New York City metro area could also see strong thunderstorms, according to authorities.

After the mid-week threat, severe weather is forecast to move gradually offshore, though some strong storms may linger across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast before conditions improve.

People in the affected areas are urged to monitor local forecasts and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

In addition to the severe thunderstorms, parts of the Southeast may also experience heavy rain associated with a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico, with the heaviest rainfall expected along portions of the northern Gulf Coast through midweek.