Following weeks of dry weather, a much-needed drink of water is coming to a large part of the central and eastern U.S. this week as multiple storms move east, but it will come at a cost, warn AccuWeather meteorologists.

The rounds of rain will be accompanied by a risk of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding, threats more commonly associated with the summertime rather than the first few days of fall.

“A series of slow-moving storms coupled with moisture flowing northward from the Gulf will lead to several rounds of rain this week across the Midwest, Mississippi and Ohio Valleys,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.

Much-needed rain comes at the risk of flooding

While the threat for damaging thunderstorms will impact a few, the rain will come for most from the Plains to the Midwest and East this week. It comes in the wake of weeks of mainly dry conditions that drastically expanded drought conditions.

“A large swath of the eastern third of the nation from the Mississippi Valley on eastward is experiencing some level of drought,” said Pydynowski. “Because of this, the turn to wetter and more humid conditions will be welcome for many.”

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, abnormally dry or drought conditions were covering over 59% of the Midwest and over 81% of the Northeast, up from 21% and 54% respectively, just four weeks prior.

The lack of rain has placed a strain on agricultural interests, browned yards and has even led to water restrictions in the region.

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The first storm was already arriving in the Plains and Midwest on Sunday, and others will follow for the rest of the week. The repeated nature of the rain can lead to impacts to travel and outdoor plans across well over a dozen states.

“Several inches of rain could fall in these areas between Monday and Friday,” added Pydynowski. “Localized downpours can lead to reduced visibility and ponding on roadways for drivers.”

The area at greatest risk for repetitive downpours and thus flooding extends from Kansas and Oklahoma east through the Ozarks and toward the mid-Mississippi River Valley through Tuesday.

Springfield, Missouri, a city in the heart of this area, has only measured just over 3 inches of rain since the beginning of July, less than a third of the rain that typically falls in that time frame. It’s possible that much rain can fall just this week.

Later in the week, through Friday, rounds of locally heavy rain will spread across parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and even Northeast.

Severe storms can be embedded with the rain

Besides dodging raindrops, many will have to keep an eye to the sky for thunderstorms, warn AccuWeather experts.

“Though the rain will be welcome, thunderstorms over the next few days will also produce some risk of severe weather for millions,” warned Pydynowski.

Following an initial risk of severe weather into Sunday night across a large swath of the Midwest, from Missouri to Michigan, the threat will slowly build south and east along with the rain chances during the new workweek.

On Monday afternoon and night, a large swath of the Plains, including Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas, can experience thunderstorms with hail, damaging wind gusts and torrential rain. There is even a possibility of a tornado or two.

The renewal of severe weather, after weeks of quiet conditions, is more typical of the summer months rather than fall, which officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere at 2:19 p.m. Eastern time on Monday.

Closer to midweek, there will be two distinct areas where severe thunderstorms can occur-in the Mississippi Valley and Plains again, and also in the Northeast.

“By Tuesday, storms across parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and eastern Ohio could turn severe,” said Pydynowski. “The primary threats will be small hail and localized damaging wind gusts, and this could slow travelers on portions of Interstates 70, 80 and 81.”

Despite the threat for damaging storms, the greatest threat will remain the risk of flooding, which can be enhanced in thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts of an inch or more an hour will be possible in stronger storms, which can wreak havoc on commutes.

A sprawling area of high pressure is forecast to build east later in the week, signaling a return to drier weather. This will occur as early as Thursday in the nation’s midsection, and by next weekend across the East.

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