Heat, humidity to fuel severe thunderstorms in Northeast
By
Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Aug 12, 2021 5:11 AM EDT
AccuWeather meteorologists say that the steamy air over the Northeast will help to set the stage for rounds of heavy to severe thunderstorms to erupt on a daily basis through the end of the week.
Anyone stepping outside across the region may think they've been transported to Florida due to the high humidity levels that have made it feel stifling.
High temperatures through the rest of the week will remain in the 90s F for most of the region, with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures several degrees above the actual thermometer reading. Along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will peak in the 100- to 110-degree range each afternoon.
The hot and steamy air will set the stage for more than the typical garden-variety thunderstorms that can blossom during the summertime.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"The Northeast will be stuck in a very active weather pattern through the rest of the week as several disturbances sweep through the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said.
As these disturbances clash with the sticky air, thunderstorms will erupt and could turn briefly robust at the local level.
"While many storms will bring heavy downpours, a few storms are likely to turn severe and bring localized damaging winds, flooding downpours, hail and even isolated tornadoes, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph," DaSilva said.
As storms raged on across the Northeast on Tuesday, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center listed multiple preliminary wind reports across Virginia, eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. Several trees and power lines were reported to have been downed by the winds.
By 7 p.m. Tuesday, PowerOutage.US had listed over 85,000 customers without power across Virginia as storms brought strong winds gusted through the state's affected counties. The number of outages started falling shortly after as crews set out to restore power.
Power outages as of Wednesday evening, Aug. 11, according to data from Poweroutage.US. (AccuWeather)
Outages weren't the only hazard to come from the storms. Officials in Germantown, Maryland, are blaming a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex on a lightning strike.
The fire began just after 5 p.m. EDT at a 3-story apartment complex on Millhaven Place, displacing dozens of residents from 12 condos and causing significant damage to the building, according to a tweet from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. Earlier, Piringer had noted that several people had been injured and several pets had been rescued.
Videos and photos of the fire show a partial structure collapse, and all lanes of Great Seneca Highway were closed from Mateny Road to Dairymaid Drive were closed as firefighters worked to douse the fire.
Strong to severe thunderstorms caused hundreds of wind damage reports across the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday and Wednesday night, ahead more severe risk forecast later in the week.
No one day is expected to be a complete washout, but those with outdoor plans will certainly want to keep an eye on the AccuWeather app to see a breakdown of hourly and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts for their location.
Downpours from the storms can be intense and lead to sudden reductions in visibility on the roadways, as well as the potential for hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds. This includes stretches of interstates 80, 81, 90 and 95.
The region hasn't been particularly wet so far this month, with most locations running slightly below the average pace for precipitation. As a result, any rainfall will largely be beneficial for thirsty lawns and crops.
"It’s a critical time for many fruits and vegetables, such as corn as well as vine crops and orchards, to fill out and mature. While warmth is essential, so is a reasonable amount of rain,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
The hotter it gets, the more the soil dries out and the more likely crops are to be stressed.
"That's why even a brief downpour can work wonders on a field this time of the year, where there has been little or no rain in the past week or longer," Sosnowski added.
The threat for flooding will be localized to areas that get hit repeatedly with heavy rainfall.
The downpours will provide temporary relief from the heat, but not the humidity. It will likely feel even more muggy following any downpours than before.
Forecasters say that residents eager for some cooler, drier weather will have to wait a bit longer for any lasting relief.
The good news is that if you're not a fan of the humid conditions, a cold font will swing through the area on Saturday and usher in drier air, according to DaSilva.
Forecasters are monitoring the potential for this front to slow down and even stall out over the lower mid-Atlantic states over the weekend, but they say that most of the region can expect a turn to more comfortable weather by Sunday.
"Sunday is forecast to be dry and pleasant across the Northeast with noticeably lower humidity," DaSilva said.
The exact timing of the return of heat and humidity may ultimately be determined by the long-range track of Fred spinning northwestward in the Caribbean that AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Heat, humidity to fuel severe thunderstorms in Northeast
By Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Aug 12, 2021 5:11 AM EDT
AccuWeather meteorologists say that the steamy air over the Northeast will help to set the stage for rounds of heavy to severe thunderstorms to erupt on a daily basis through the end of the week.
Anyone stepping outside across the region may think they've been transported to Florida due to the high humidity levels that have made it feel stifling.
High temperatures through the rest of the week will remain in the 90s F for most of the region, with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures several degrees above the actual thermometer reading. Along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will peak in the 100- to 110-degree range each afternoon.
The hot and steamy air will set the stage for more than the typical garden-variety thunderstorms that can blossom during the summertime.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"The Northeast will be stuck in a very active weather pattern through the rest of the week as several disturbances sweep through the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said.
As these disturbances clash with the sticky air, thunderstorms will erupt and could turn briefly robust at the local level.
"While many storms will bring heavy downpours, a few storms are likely to turn severe and bring localized damaging winds, flooding downpours, hail and even isolated tornadoes, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph," DaSilva said.
As storms raged on across the Northeast on Tuesday, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center listed multiple preliminary wind reports across Virginia, eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. Several trees and power lines were reported to have been downed by the winds.
By 7 p.m. Tuesday, PowerOutage.US had listed over 85,000 customers without power across Virginia as storms brought strong winds gusted through the state's affected counties. The number of outages started falling shortly after as crews set out to restore power.
Power outages as of Wednesday evening, Aug. 11, according to data from Poweroutage.US. (AccuWeather)
Outages weren't the only hazard to come from the storms. Officials in Germantown, Maryland, are blaming a two-alarm fire at an apartment complex on a lightning strike.
The fire began just after 5 p.m. EDT at a 3-story apartment complex on Millhaven Place, displacing dozens of residents from 12 condos and causing significant damage to the building, according to a tweet from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer. Earlier, Piringer had noted that several people had been injured and several pets had been rescued.
Videos and photos of the fire show a partial structure collapse, and all lanes of Great Seneca Highway were closed from Mateny Road to Dairymaid Drive were closed as firefighters worked to douse the fire.
Strong to severe thunderstorms caused hundreds of wind damage reports across the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday and Wednesday night, ahead more severe risk forecast later in the week.
No one day is expected to be a complete washout, but those with outdoor plans will certainly want to keep an eye on the AccuWeather app to see a breakdown of hourly and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts for their location.
Downpours from the storms can be intense and lead to sudden reductions in visibility on the roadways, as well as the potential for hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds. This includes stretches of interstates 80, 81, 90 and 95.
The region hasn't been particularly wet so far this month, with most locations running slightly below the average pace for precipitation. As a result, any rainfall will largely be beneficial for thirsty lawns and crops.
more weather news:
"It’s a critical time for many fruits and vegetables, such as corn as well as vine crops and orchards, to fill out and mature. While warmth is essential, so is a reasonable amount of rain,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
The hotter it gets, the more the soil dries out and the more likely crops are to be stressed.
"That's why even a brief downpour can work wonders on a field this time of the year, where there has been little or no rain in the past week or longer," Sosnowski added.
The threat for flooding will be localized to areas that get hit repeatedly with heavy rainfall.
The downpours will provide temporary relief from the heat, but not the humidity. It will likely feel even more muggy following any downpours than before.
Forecasters say that residents eager for some cooler, drier weather will have to wait a bit longer for any lasting relief.
The good news is that if you're not a fan of the humid conditions, a cold font will swing through the area on Saturday and usher in drier air, according to DaSilva.
Forecasters are monitoring the potential for this front to slow down and even stall out over the lower mid-Atlantic states over the weekend, but they say that most of the region can expect a turn to more comfortable weather by Sunday.
"Sunday is forecast to be dry and pleasant across the Northeast with noticeably lower humidity," DaSilva said.
The exact timing of the return of heat and humidity may ultimately be determined by the long-range track of Fred spinning northwestward in the Caribbean that AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo