Severe thunderstorms loom over US, anticipate heavy rainfall.

Severe Thunderstorms Pose Threat to US, Prepare for Torrential Downpours

According to AccuWeather meteorologists, dangerous and potentially damaging thunderstorms are expected to develop on Monday, extending from Vermont and New Hampshire down to the Carolinas and westward to Mississippi. This comes after an active evening of severe weather from Tennessee to New Jersey.

“There have been close to 700 incidents of damaging winds alone from severe weather spanning Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,” said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As more information comes in from Sunday’s severe storms and what is likely to unfold on Monday, the five-day period may end up with 1,000 cases of damaging winds in the Central, Southern, and Eastern United States.

Over 50 million people in the Eastern and Southern states are at risk of experiencing severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon and evening.

Major Metro Areas at Risk

Major metro areas at risk for severe weather along Interstate 95 on Monday include New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Additionally, Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, as well as Greenville in South Carolina and Atlanta, could also face severe weather. Flight delays are likely to increase as the storms approach area airports.

The greatest threat during thunderstorms is from lightning strikes. With many people spending time outdoors due to the Independence Day holiday, it is crucial to move indoors at the first rumble of thunder. Tents, golf carts, and picnic pavilions do not provide adequate protection from lightning.

“In addition to the likelihood of sudden, frequent lightning strikes, some of the storms will produce wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather Meteorologist.

“At this strength, large tree limbs can break, and poorly rooted trees can be toppled. Where trees interact with utility lines, local to regional power outages are possible,” DaSilva stated. Severe storms on Saturday knocked out power to more than 200,000 utility customers from the middle Mississippi Valley to the Southeast states, according to AccuWeather.

Due to the high moisture content in the air, the towering clouds from the thunderstorms will unleash torrential downpours, causing sudden drops in visibility. Runoff can turn streets into raging torrents of water within minutes, and areas with poor drainage can experience water accumulation. Campers near small streams, especially in the southern Appalachians, should closely monitor heavy rain as upstream downpours can lead to rapid rises in water levels at their site.

There is also a possibility of pea to marble-sized hail with the strongest storms.

A sea breeze along the coast may offer some protection from thunderstorms at most beaches during the midday and afternoon hours. However, there may be exceptions. When a sea breeze is present and thunderstorms build inland, the storms often hold off until the evening or nighttime hours before reaching the beach. Sporadic morning showers may occur as the sea breeze develops and moves a few miles inland.

Fortunately, dry air from the Great Lakes and Canada is expected to prevent thunderstorms from forming over much of the Northeast on Independence Day.

“However, a broad ribbon of moisture, where heavy to locally severe thunderstorms may occur from around the Delaware Bay region to the lower Mississippi Valley. Storms in this zone will likely be drenching and locally gusty with the potential for sudden lightning strikes. Most of the storms will tend to occur during the afternoon and evening hours,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz.

As cool air pushes southward from Canada, thunderstorms will develop along the back edge of warm and humid conditions from Monday to Tuesday over parts of the North Central states.

Similar to storms in the eastern and southern U.S. into Tuesday, the greatest threats from these storms will be sudden lightning strikes, high winds, and heavy downpours. Some of the strongest storms over the northern and central Plains may produce moderate hail up to the size of marbles or golf balls.

Any severe thunderstorm in the Central and Eastern states has the potential to produce a brief tornado or waterspout through Independence Day.

Produced in association with AccuWeather

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager

The Western Journal has not reviewed this story prior to publication. Therefore, it may not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

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