As 255 million Americans are under heat advisories due to searing temperatures, a series of severe storms are anticipated to hit the eastern coast of the United States.
Major Northeast cities that might see heavy rain, destructive winds, hail, and even localized tornadoes on Thursday afternoon include New York City, Boston, Albany, and Burlington, Vermont.
Rains could provide a temporary reprieve in a country where temperatures have been rising all week, and analysts predict that the trend will continue into the weekend.
On Thursday, temperatures in Boston and New York City may rise to 95 degrees, and throughout the weekend, they may continue to rise toward 100 degrees.
In some Midwest towns, it has already surpassed 100 degrees. In the South, where Richmond is projected to reach 99 degrees today, it is well on its way to doing the same.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the vulnerable areas could get rain by late morning because to the air’s combination of heat and moisture.
The region of New England’s interior where up to two inches could fall suddenly is predicted to receive the most precipitation.
According to AccuWeather, severe wind gusts with gusts up to 60 mph will provide the most threat to the affected areas.
Additionally, meteorologists predict lightning, and while it may be possible for a tornado to form in some regions, they claimed the likelihood was low.
The storms are predicted to continue up into Maine after passing across the middle Northeast, putting Portland in their sights.
As the storm cells approach the coastline, rain is anticipated to stop.
A series of summer storms are also anticipated for the Southeast, with Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte, Birmingham, and Jackson being most at risk for lightning and strong winds.
There will likely be continued rain and other rainy weather in the area.
Over the course of the weekend, the Great Lakes region is also likely to face severe storms, with Chicago and Michigan potentially experiencing flash flooding, destructive winds of up to 70 mph, and the danger of isolated tornadoes forming.
Storms arrive On Wednesday, Boston declared a “heat emergency” due to the nation’s rising temperatures, and authorities in New York City warned citizens to stay inside for their own safety.
Boston’s mayor, Michelle Wu, has declared a state of emergency and opened a number of cooling centers throughout the city to assist in protecting residents.
In order to avoid the “hazardous” heatwave, Jackie Bray, commissioner of New York’s homeland security and emergency services division, advised residents to stay inside.
In order to protect locals from “dangerous conditions that can lead to heat stress and disease,” she lobbied for the relocation.
Around 265 million people in the US will experience temperatures above 90 degrees in the upcoming days, and at least one-third of the country has been issued with heat advisories and excessive heat warnings.
A sustained area of high pressure trapping heat over an area is the main cause of the “heat dome” that is engulfing the nation.