Washington, 7 Aug, 2023 (GNP): Severe thunderstorms are posing a significant threat to over 120 million people in the Eastern US, with potentially damaging wind gusts, large hail, heavy rainfall, and even a few tornadoes, especially from Philadelphia to Atlanta.
The storm system is a result of a potent weather system that previously affected the Ohio River Valley and is now advancing towards the east, bringing severe weather risks across large parts of the country to the east of the Mississippi River.
The most severe effects of it will occur in a region that includes Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Raleigh stretching from northern Alabama to southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. According to forecasters, the region is at level 3 out of 5 risk for severe storms.
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A level 2 of 5 risk for severe storms, which includes New York City, Virginia Beach, Pittsburgh, Wilmington, Savannah, Columbus, Charleston, and Newark extending from western Alabama to southern New York.
Along with these storms, there is a chance that the Northeast will experience significant rainfall. The Northeast has been warned that there is a level 2 of 4 risk of excessive rainfall. Sporadic rainfall of 2-4 inches could occur on Monday.
The National Weather Service has highlighted the dangers posed by thunderstorms, severe weather, and flash flooding in the affected regions.
Previously, the Eastern US witnessed numerous storm reports, with over 150 reports on Sunday and over 130 on Saturday, including tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail, spread across Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska.
While the regions of East brace themselves for thunderstorms and torrential rain, cities across the South are grappling with extreme heat. Numerous record high temperatures and high morning minimum temperatures have been observed. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories remain in effect for the southern part of the country, stretching from southeast California into Florida.
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“For the foreseeable future as there is no relief in sight to the heat for the remainder of the week across these areas,” the weather service said.
As cities like Austin, Texas, recorded their 30th consecutive day with temperatures over 100 degrees, New Orleans experienced exceptionally high humidity levels resulting in “feel-like” temperatures of 115 degrees or higher. Cooling centers were opened in New Orleans to provide residents respite from the extreme heat, officials said.
The forecasted excessive heat warning for Monday, 7 August, marks the 17th issued in 2023 so far, surpassing the previous record of five warnings in 2021.
