Rain and thunderstorms are in store from the Midwest to the Northeast this week, beginning Thursday. The severe weather includes damaging thunderstorms and the potential for tornadoes according to Accuweather. The thunderstorms could turn severe each afternoon and evening.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said: “It appears that the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland will have the highest risk for damaging thunderstorms and even a tornado.”
Cities facing severe weather daily into Thursday include Akron and Youngstown, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Allentown, Pennsylvania; and Hagerstown, Maryland.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch for much of Pennsylvania which is in place until 10pm EDT (2am Wednesday BST).
A tornado watch is detailed by the NWS as follows: “Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.
Read More: Ohio tornado warning: Latest forecast as HUGE tornado rips across Ohio
“Review and discuss your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!”
There are more than 14 million people who live in the area where the watch has been issued.
Already, severe storms have impacted western Pennsylvania, with one storm over the town of Stoneboro raining down hail almost as large as tennis balls.
At risk of storms this evening are Fort Wayne, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; New York City; Trenton, New Jersey; and Baltimore.
Dayton Ohio could see a heavy and gusty thunderstorm this evening before the severe weather risk increases on Wednesday.
The threat on Wednesday afternoon and evening will also move south to Columbus, Ohio, and Morgantown, West Virginia, and remain in place throughout Baltimore.
Many areas being threatened on Wednesday will face yet another round of violent thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon and evening.
Mr Anderson said: “The thunderstorms will move quickly, which reduces the risk of flooding.
“However, thunderstorms may move over the same areas during an extended period of time (training storms), which increases the risk for urban and flash flooding.”
“These thunderstorm complexes may also produce thousands of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes as they race eastward through the region.
“Residents should be prepared for power outages due to the lightning and powerful straight-line wind gusts.”
Temperatures are also forecast to rise across the eastern United States, triggering a “battle” according to Mr Anderson.
The senior meteorologist said: “Parts of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic will be stuck in the battle zone between extreme heat in the Southeast and cool, maritime air in the Northeast.”
“Drier air will sweep into the region later Thursday night and Friday, ending the risk for severe thunderstorms.”
Across the southern mid-Atlantic, temperatures will soar towards 90F (30+C) on Wednesday and Thursday, with humidity also on the increase.