Severe winds, hail forecast to strike I-95 corridor including NYC, Philadelphia
The FOX Forecast Center said the current projections bring possibly severe thunderstorms near the I-95 corridor just as millions head home for their Friday evening commute.
Northeast braces for severe winds, hail
The brief warmup across the Northeast late this week will quickly be brought to a halt later Friday as a strong cold front swings through and fires up severe storms in the process.
PHILADELPHIA – Thunderstorms will likely erupt across the Northeast later Friday as a strong cold front plows through the region.
Ahead of the front, temperatures will be quite warm, reaching the mid-to-upper 80s, the FOX Forecast Center said. The heat and seasonably humid air in place will provide the atmospheric energy needed for storms to grow and strengthen.
As surface temperatures warm, thunderstorms will likely form in the higher terrain around midday before moving eastward through the afternoon.
(FOX Weather)
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 9 p.m. ET for portions of central and eastern Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. The primary threats include scattered damaging wind gusts of up to 70 mph and scattered large hail events with diameters of up to 1.5 inches.
(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said the current projections bring the storms near the I-95 corridor just as millions head home for their Friday evening commute.
"Between the potential for minor street flooding and strong straight line winds possibly getting in the way of train services, you want to make sure that you're planning ahead," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said.
About 52 million people are living inside a Level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore are inside that zone.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE FOX WEATHER APP
(FOX Weather)
As storms initially develop, large hail will be the main risk before the threat increases for 60-plus mph winds as the storms reach the I-95 corridor. In addition, a spin up of a tornado cannot be ruled out.
The storms and cold front will bring a swift end to the warmth with pleasant temperatures expected this weekend. But the relief won't last long as a budding heat wave looks to build next week with highs well into the 90s expected for multiple days.