Powerful Storms Rumble Across Eastern Seaboard
Powerful thunderstorms will pepper the Eastern Seaboard through early Monday morning. Damaging winds will be the primary risk, although a few tornadoes and hail will be possible too.
Dangerous weather will continue to precede a potent cold front dividing summer warmth and humidity from much cooler, drier air behind it. This activity will happen until predawn Monday, exiting the Mid-Atlantic and New England beaches last. Farther south, there may be a smattering of strong to severe thunderstorms through early tonight.
Severe Thunderstorm Watches stretch from the Virginia-North Carolina border to Pennsylvania, far southern New York and into New Jersey. A Tornado Watch is in effect for much of western and central Pennsylvania. State College, Pa., Roanoke, Va., Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Clarksburg, W. Va., are in these watches.
Scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, quarter size hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible within the most intense activity.
Cities potentially with a dangerous storm encounter include from near the Canada and U.S. border in Caribou, Maine, all of the way to the western Carolina Piedmont and Tennessee Valley. This includes bigger metropolitan areas like New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Va., and Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C., to Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn.
Flooding will be part of the thunderstorms makeup too. A quick 1 to 3 inches of rainfall will occur in a short time, with isolated totals of 4 to 5 inches possible. This could lead to urban and poor drainage flooding, and could promote river, stream, and creek flooding. Flood Watches remain in effect across northern and western Maine, northern New Hampshire, and northern Vermont. Remember, if you approach a road covered by water, it is best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they be issued. A "watch" means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur, and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A "warning" means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.
The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water, and non-perishable food items. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today's severe weather. Remember, "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!"