1:50 PM (Tuesday) | *Strong-to-severe storms possible later today/early tonight in DC-to-Philly corridor*
Paul Dorian
Thunderstorms have broken out at mid-day across eastern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia and some of these will move into the I-95 corridor late in the afternoon or early tonight. Images courtesy College of DuPage, NOAA
Overview
Strong thunderstorms have broken out across eastern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia and some of these may reach the DC-to-Philly corridor late in the afternoon or early tonight. This activity is being driven in part by an upper-level impulse that contributed to a large batch of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms across Kentucky earlier in the day. Clearing skies today in the I-95 corridor has allowed for a rapid warm up and destabilization of the lower atmosphere and moisture levels are sufficient to support strong-to-severe thunderstorm activity. The threat for severe weather is not likely to extend up to New York City or the northern/eastern parts of New Jersey as an onshore flow will keep the atmosphere more stable in those areas.
A contributing factor to the threat for strong-to-severe thunderstorm activity is a trough of low pressure situated in the lee of the Appalachians which helps to destabilize the lower atmosphere. Map courtesy NOAA
Details
There were multiple tornadoes reported in the Mid-Atlantic region on Monday and there is a threat of more severe weather later today into early tonight in the DC-to-Philly- corridor and surrounding regions. Thunderstorms are growing across the eastern parts of West Virginia at mid-day and in the southwestern part of Virginia and are generally moving to the northeast. At this rate, the chance for strong-to-severe storms in the DC and Philly metro regions will likely fall in the 4-9 PM time period. The threat for severe weather will include the risk of damaging wind gusts, hail, and an outside chance of a tornado. In addition to the upper-level support, there is a surface cold front approaching from the west and a trough of low pressure in the lee of the Appalachians.
Scattered strong-to-severe thunderstorms are depicted by this high-resolution evening forecast map in the DC-to-Philly corridor. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
The threat for showers and thunderstorms will continue on Wednesday until the surface cold front clears the area. Cooler and drier air will follow the frontal passage for tomorrow night and Thursday and temperatures are likely to hold in the 60’s for highs on Thursday afternoon following the 80’s later today.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Perspecta, Inc.
perspectaweather.com