Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Death toll in Texas reaches 129 as flash flood threat expands. Chevron right
Life-threatening flash flooding ongoing across central Texas. Get the forecast Chevron right

Columbus, OH

88°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

88°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

Severe thunderstorms batter mid-Atlantic to New England with powerful winds, torrential downpours

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor & Chaffin Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer

Published May 19, 2019 9:57 PM EDT | Updated Jul 23, 2019 8:33 PM EDT

Copied

According to initial reports this apartment building in State College, Pennsylvania caught on fire Sunday afternoon after being struck by lightning. You can see the massive smoke and flames kick up as firefighters arrive on scene.

A round of severe thunderstorms tracked across the Midwest and the Northeast on Sunday, prompting reports of damaging winds, tornadoes, flooding downpours and hail.

There were three preliminary tornado reports on Sunday. An EF0 tornado, featuring peak winds up to 80 mph, was reported in Lacey, Michigan, while another tornado was reported near West Alexandria, Ohio. A third tornado was reported in Montpelier, Louisiana, where damage was reported to a store.

A student housing unit in State College, Pennsylvania, caught on fire after being reportedly struck by lightning Sunday afternoon.

There were 23 large hail reports on Sunday. The largest report came from Clear Springs, Maryland, where hail about 2 inches in diameter was measured.

Sunday was third day in a row that severe thunderstorms rumbled across the United States, following damaging storms and tornadoes in the nation’s midsection Friday into Saturday.

D69P_GSW4AYRq-c.jpg

A shelf cloud as seen in Syracuse, New York, on May 19, 2019. (Twitter/sjminamide)

These storms marched through major metro areas including Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Indianapolis and Syracuse, New York.

The storms caused power outages and sent trees toppling onto homes and cars in the Syracuse area, according to Syracuse.com.

The multi-day severe weather threat will continue on Monday and Tuesday in the central U.S.

AccuWeather meteorologists expected Monday to be the most violent day of the outbreak, with areas from western and central Texas through Oklahoma and into southern Kansas at risk of storms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, flooding downpours and tornadoes.

The threat is not over for the Northeast either, particuarly in New England.

Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert to severe storm and tornado warnings in your area. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.

Read below to follow real-time updates from Sunday's severe weather event.

RELATED:

Watch: Reed Timmer reflects on his wild chase from Friday
Severe storm threat to shift into Great Lakes, Northeast on Sunday
Tropical disturbance may brew off the Atlantic coast this week
Central US cleans up after full weekend of severe weather while bracing for more to follow
Tornadoes to spin up again on Tuesday as severe weather outbreak continues to unfold across the central US

<hr>

11:30 p.m. EDT Sunday:

A flash flood warning is in effect for Lehigh, Carbon, Monroe and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania until 2:15 a.m. EDT. Thunderstorms containing torrential downpours will continue to impact parts of northeastern Pennsylvania over the next few hours.

Flash Flood Warning including Northampton PA, Catasauqua PA, Nazareth PA until 2:15 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/FGAvvehxvk

— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) May 20, 2019

<hr>

10:00 p.m. EDT Sunday:

The National Weather Service reported a tornado touched down near West Alexandria, Ohio, which is west of Dayton.

Photo of the tornado that touched down near West Alexandria, OH tonight. pic.twitter.com/SHnq0JlDtP

— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) May 20, 2019

<hr>

9 :00 p.m. EDT Sunday:

Approximately 45,000 customers are without power in the Mid-Atlantic region due to severe weather.

<hr>

8:15 p.m. EDT Sunday:

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect from York County to Lancaster County until 8:45 p.m. EDT. The storm is moving east at 50 mph.

It's a busy night! ⚠️ New Severe Thunderstorm WARNING in effect until 8:45 PM as a storm crosses from York Co. to LanCo. Storm is moving east at 50 mph. Storm will be near Columbia, Mount Joy, Marietta, Lancaster, Lititz, Millersville, & Ephrata. pic.twitter.com/WOjfhxg989

— Lancaster Weather (@LancasterWX) May 20, 2019

<hr>

7:45 p.m. EDT Sunday:

Reports indicate lightning started a fire that caused substantial damage to the roof of a student living building in Patton Township in Pennsylvania. According to reports, nearby residents heard a large boom of thunder right before the fire alarms went off.

Nearby residents report hearing a “large crack and then a boom” of thunder right before the WiFi went out and the fire alarms started sounding at the Tremont Student Living complex. pic.twitter.com/QJXx4CRMYc

— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) May 19, 2019

<hr>

6:30 p.m. EDT Sunday:

A Tornado Warning is in effect for York, Weigelstown and Spry, Pennsylvania until 7 p.m. EDT.

Tornado Warning including York PA, Weigelstown PA, Spry PA until 7:00 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/jSZHVk1ude

— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) May 19, 2019

<hr>

5:45 p.m. EDT Sunday:

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Warnings are in effect across the Midwest to the Northeast.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Pottsville PA, Tamaqua PA, Schuylkill Haven PA until 6:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/OFW5p0bbay

— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) May 19, 2019

<hr>

3:15 p.m. EDT Sunday:

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for parts of three Pennsylvania counties—Centre, Huntingdon and Mifflin—until 3:45 p.m. EDT. Strong winds, hail and downpours can be expected with this storm.

<hr>

3:00 p.m. EDT Sunday:

There is a Tornado Warning in effect for Port Huron, Marysville and Emmett, Michigan, until 4 p.m. EDT. The storm is tracking toward the northeast in the direction of Lake Huron.

Tornado Warning including Port Huron MI, Marysville MI, Emmett MI until 4:00 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/zcXoiCJ2wu

— NWS Detroit (@NWSDetroit) May 19, 2019

<hr>

2:45 p.m. EDT Sunday:

Severe storms are quickly developing across the Midwest and the Northeast.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff urges people to seek shelter inside as soon as you hear thunder or see threatening skies.

If you're outside enjoying the summerlike weather in the Northeast, heads up! Storms are popping up and quickly becoming severe. Seek shelter inside as soon as you hear thunder or see threatening skies! #pawx #mdwx #nywx pic.twitter.com/AXqeOgnG24

— Reneé Duff 🧡🖤⚾️ (@ReduffWx) May 19, 2019

<hr>

2 p.m. EDT Sunday:

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for part of the northeastern U.S., including Scranton, Pennsylvania; Albany and Syracuse, New York; and Burlington, Vermont. A severe thunderstorm watch means that conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop, including hail, wind gusts over 60 mph and frequent lightning.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for much of central and eastern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and most of Vermont until 9 pm this evening. pic.twitter.com/TxPMlKoT9j

— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) May 19, 2019
Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Evacuations ordered as flooding returns to central Texas

Jul. 13, 2025
Weather News

Death toll reaches 129 in Texas as new flash flood threat expands

Jul. 13, 2025
Hurricane

Tropical trouble in the Atlantic may brew this week

Jul. 13, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Thunderstorms fuel increasing flash flooding threat in Texas

4 hours ago

Weather News

Engine fuel supply cut just before Air India jet crash, report says

11 hours ago

Weather News

Texas Hill Country: Before, during and after the flood

1 day ago

Weather News

Flash flooding swamps Iowa Quad Cities as storms unleash damaging rain

1 day ago

Severe Weather

Rounds of severe weather to rumble in the central US into midweek

3 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Health

How can families handle new anxieties around summer camp?

2 days ago

Weather News

Viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrates her first birthday

2 days ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

2 days ago

Business

Samsung is looking into more AI devices potentially including earrings...

2 days ago

Weather News

The US has a plan to breed millions of flies and drop them from planes

3 days ago

AccuWeather Weather News Severe thunderstorms batter mid-Atlantic to New England with powerful winds, torrential downpours
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...