Meteorologists from AccuWeather are warning that a weather system similar to the one that caused almost 300 instances of wind damage and over a dozen tornadoes in the Midwestern United States on Wednesday is now moving towards the Atlantic Seaboard, stretching from Quebec to the Carolinas, and is expected to continue through Thursday night.
Elevated humidity levels, coupled with a disturbance in the jet stream, will result in thunderstorms forming and moving from the Appalachians and Piedmont regions towards the Atlantic coast on Thursday afternoon and evening.
According to Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist, major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. are likely to experience significant airline delays and ground stops as the storms approach. He also warned that flight cancellations may occur, potentially disrupting the entire U.S. air travel system. Motorists are advised to exercise caution in the event of high water and reduced visibility as the storms approach, and to avoid flood-prone roads.
The thunderstorms are expected to bring powerful wind gusts averaging 60–70 mph, with localised maximum gusts reaching up to 85 mph. Due to saturated ground conditions, these strong winds could uproot trees or snap weakened branches, potentially causing power outages. Additionally, there is an increased risk of tornadoes in regions spanning upstate New York, northwestern New England and parts of central and eastern Quebec.
In addition to strong winds, some storms may produce small hail, which could damage crops, plants, and other vegetation. Flash flooding in urban areas and alongside small streams is anticipated as the storms progress, with severe weather impacting regions from South Carolina to Georgia, Florida and Alabama. As a dome of heat expands over the coming days, severe thunderstorms are expected to develop from the Midwest to parts of the Northeast.
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