Overview

• Scattered thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday evening carry risks of damaging wind gusts, localized flash flooding and hail across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
• A cold front arriving Tuesday afternoon will usher in lower humidity and plenty of sunshine with highs easing into the 80s by midweek.
• All of Chicagoland remains under drought conditions, intensifying the need for storm rainfall to relieve agricultural and ecological stress, according to the USDA.
• An Air Quality Advisory persists for several Cleveland-area counties as stagnant summer weather traps pollutants and raises health concerns.
• Forecasts for Independence Day weekend call for mostly clear skies and comfortable afternoon highs in the mid- to upper-80s, ideal for outdoor activities and fireworks.