Big Thunderstorms, Flooding Risk Increases Across Eastern Seaboard

A few waves of dangerous weather may be commonplace from the eastern Ohio Valley to the Eastern Seaboard for the beginning of the workweek. Damaging wind gusts is the main risk, although a couple tornadoes will be possible also.

An unusually robust upper-level area of low pressure in the Lower Great Lakes will mix with seasonably warm to hot, very humid weather parked from the eastern Ohio Valley to the Eastern Seaboard. This will mean downpours and a few waves of dangerous weather may be commonplace throughout this evening and tonight.

The greatest severe weather danger zone is from far northeastern Alabama and middle Tennessee to southern New Jersey. The biggest severe risk will be damaging wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph. A few tornadoes are possible, especially if the intense and more organized thunderstorms roll along a warm front draped along the Interstate 95 corridor from near the nation’s capital to Baltimore and Philadelphia.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect from northern Alabama and eastern Tennessee to western North Carolina and far southwestern Virginia, including Huntsville, Ala., Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Bristol, Tenn., and Asheville, Tenn.

Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, Tenn., Roanoke, Richmond, Arlington, and Virginia Beach, Va., and Charleston, W. Va., are all located in this severe weather danger zone.

Heavy rainfall will be part of the thunderstorms and storm systems punishment as well. One to 3 inches with locally higher totals up to 4 or 5 inches could create flooding issues, especially across parts of the Lower Great Lakes and eastern Pennsylvania into southern New England. Both locations have received 1 to 2 inches of rainfall recently and remain waterlogged.

Flood Watches are in place from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois to southern Michigan, as well as from Maryland’s Interstate 95 corridor to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod. Providence, R.I., Hartford, Conn., New York City and Binghamton, N.Y., Newark and Trenton, N.J., Wilmington, Del., Philadelphia, Allentown, and Scranton, Pa., Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich., Milwaukee, and Chicago, are included. Remember, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”.

The cold front will slow to a crawl across the Eastern U.S. on Tuesday. This means the flooding and big thunderstorm risk will shift to far southern New England to the Florida Gulf Coast. Cities such as Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C., and Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Va., will need to keep a watchful eye to the sky for threatening weather.

Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become 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 should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today's severe weather. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”