Severe Weather Returns to a Familiar Stretch of the East Today

Severe storms will continue to roar through the Plains, the Midwest, and the eastern U.S. over the back half of the week. Here is a closer look at when and where to expect the disruptive weather over the next few days.

Thursday's Storm Zone Includes Southeast Up Through New Jersey

It is setting up to be a rocky day of weather for a large swath of the eastern U.S. on Thursday. The line of storms is forecast to come together in a zone from northern Mississippi and Alabama through Tennessee, the eastern half of Kentucky, and up into North Carolina, Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula, southeastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. While the day started quietly in this part of the country, forecasters are warning that storms will ignite in the afternoon and evening hours as the mercury rises. The high humidity levels will amplify the storms.

Some of the strongest storm cells will produce rain capable of triggering flash flooding. Localized wind gusts of up to 75 mph are possible at times. You also cannot rule out the threat of isolated tornadic activity. Several large metro areas are under the potential umbrella of storms, including Birmingham, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

A secondary pocket of severe storms is forecast to set up on Thursday over some areas of the Midwest. Hail, heavy rain, and high winds are possible across a swath of land from central Nebraska and into the middle of Minnesota. Cities in the line of fire for this area of thunderstorm activity include Minneapolis and Sioux Falls.

More Storms on the Horizon for Friday

The end of the work week will close on a stormy note for portions of the Plains and the Midwest. Once again, likely impacts include flash flooding and damaging winds up to 85 mph.

The greatest concentration of storms is forecast in an area from northern Kansas and into central Nebraska. These storms will then creep to the east into northern Illinois, and to the north through central Wisconsin. Communities that should be alert to severe weather impacts include Omaha, Kansas City, Des Moines, Sioux City, and Chicago.

Meanwhile, storms are also expected to linger along the Atlantic coastline, impacting coastal areas of the Carolinas to the north into southeastern Virginia. The primary impact zone of this cluster of storms includes Raleigh, Wilmington, Virginia Beach, and Richmond.

Looking ahead to the weekend, you can expect a surge of cooler air to make its way from the Midwest to the East Coast. The timing of this cooler and less humid air will dictate where any lingering storms set up. The forecast models suggest that severe storms and torrential downpours could be the story from the Appalachians to the Atlantic Seaboard as the weekend progresses.

We will continue to follow all of the storm action and keep you updated on the latest forecast.

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