(Editor’s note: When you see a warning come in from AccuWeather that starts out, “Ohio Valley to be Rocked into Tonight,” you know you’d better post it ASAP. Here’s the statement in its entirety.)
A two-day barrage of explosive severe thunderstorms will take aim at the Ohio Valley today followed by the Northeast and mid-Atlantic Saturday.
Ohio Valley to be Rocked into Tonight
Very warm, sticky air in place across the eastern third of the nation will clash with a strong cold front to ignite numerous damaging thunderstorms. The nasty weather associated with this potent fall-like system already brought hail and gusty winds to central Iowa Thursday night.
Later today, more thunderstorms will erupt from central Missouri to northwestern Ohio. Residents in cities such as Paducah, Ky., Indianapolis, Ind., and Toledo, Ohio, should pay close attention to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions. This zone has the greatest chance of seeing damaging winds, large hail, and even a few tornadoes.
Spin in the atmosphere along with a large temperature contrast over just several hundred miles will aid in the development of these severe storms.
As in any severe weather event, take shelter if a thunderstorm is headed your way. Do not attempt to outrun a tornado and take extra caution driving through torrential downpours.
As the sun sets and the atmosphere becomes more stable, the thunderstorms should weaken overnight as they push eastward into the central and eastern Ohio Valley. The main threat after late evening will transition from damaging winds to drenching rainfall.
The silver lining for the aforementioned areas is that the rainfall will continue to aid in drought relief.
Severe Storms, Possible Tornadoes in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic Saturday
By dawn Saturday, a swath of rain and embedded thunderstorms is expected to extend from Tennessee into southern Ontario. As this band sweeps eastward, strong winds high in the atmosphere can transfer to the surface, causing brief wind gusts in excess of 40 mph across western New York and Pennsylvania.
During the day Saturday, plenty of sunshine from Virginia to New York will prime the atmosphere for a stormy late afternoon and evening.
Thunderstorms are expected to intensify by mid-afternoon as they push toward the I-95 corridor by evening. The main threat will be damaging winds but a few tornadoes can also occur.
While anyone from the Carolinas to New England can experience locally damaging winds, the highest risk of tornadoes should be confined from northeastern Pennsylvania to western Massachusetts, spanning the lower Hudson River Valley.
After sunset Saturday, strong storms can affect coastal New England before sweeping off the coast.
In the wake of this potent cold front, cool, refreshing air will build into the eastern half of the nation. After days of humid weather with high temperatures in the 80s and 90s, readings in the 60s and 70s are expected by Sunday and Monday!
The fall-like weather in store next week will, however, come at a price with potentially tree-toppling storms today and Saturday.
About AccuWeather: AccuWeather, established in 1962, bills itself as “the World’s Weather Authority.” The for-profit company provides local forecasts for every part of the United States and over two million locations worldwide. AccuWeather has more than 175,000 paying customers in media, business, government and institutions. Its headquarters in State College, Pa., is home to the greatest number of forecast meteorologists in one location anywhere in the world.
(Editor’s note: When you see a warning come in from AccuWeather that starts out, “Ohio Valley to be Rocked into Tonight,” you know you’d better post it ASAP. Here’s the statement in its entirety.)
During the day Saturday, plenty of sunshine from Virginia to New York will prime the atmosphere for a stormy late afternoon and evening.
