Thunderstorms across the South and East Coast have erupted in severe weather on three fronts, with the National Weather Service confirming a tornado. The NWS also predicts the longest heat wave in 14 years. All this, plus today’s alerts and a not-so-beautiful forecast.
3 severe weather fronts across the South and East on Thursday
Thunderstorms across the South and East have erupted in severe weather on three fronts for Thursday, putting millions under threat in 17 states.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a Level 2 severe weather risk over three regions on Thursday, which includes the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.
The first front is in the South over eastern Texas, southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, central Mississippi, central Alabama, and west-central Georgia.
The second front is in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic over northeastern South Carolina, central and northeastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, southern Maryland, and Delaware.
The third front is in the Northeast over eastern New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire; and Maine.
Severe thunderstorm watch in Northeast
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a severe thunderstorm watch over south-central and eastern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Tornado in New Hampshire
The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down in New Hampshire on Monday night. The EF-1 tornado had estimated peak winds of 90 mph and stayed on the ground for about 250 yards. The short-distance tornado managed to down or damage roughly 200 trees and destroyed some outbuildings, but no residential structures or injuries were reported, WMUR reports.
NWS predicts longest heat wave in 14 years.
The current US heat wave continues to expand. It is now moving into parts of the East, where it is expected to persist for at least the next six days.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting that parts of the Northeast will experience their longest heat wave in 14 years, Gothamist reported. Temperatures of 90+ degrees began on Tuesday and won’t subside until next Monday, according to the NWS. New York City hasn’t seen six consecutive days of heat like this since 2008, and NYC’s electrical grid is already showing signs of strain.
NWS heat alerts for Thursday
The National Weather Service issued the following heat-related alerts for Thursday.
Excessive heat warning for portions of Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia.
Heat advisory for portions of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Panhandle, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Weekend forecast
Here is the weekend forecast, according to the current outlook from the National Weather Service.
Friday: Scattered thunderstorms
Scattered thunderstorms over parts of the northern tier, West, Southwest, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, with more persistent storms across the South and Southeast. No severe weather in the forecast.
Saturday: Strong thunderstorms for upper Midwest, Great Lakes region
Scattered thunderstorms are predicted over parts of the West and Southwest, as well as the South and Southeast.
Strong thunderstorms forecast over parts of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region will bring a strong possibility of severe weather.
A Level 2 severe weather risk over portions of Minnesota, Iowa, northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois and over Lake Michigan.
A stronger level 3 severe weather risk over southeastern Minnesota, western, central and southwestern Wisconsin, and northeastern Iowa, according to the SPC.
Sunday: Heat, Heavy rain for Southwest, South, Great Lakes region
Well above-average temperatures in the central US, where parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas are likely to see triple-digit heat, as well as to the West and parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Heavy rain in parts of the Southwest over much of Arizona and Colorado, as well as Western and Northern New Mexico. In the South, heavy rain over southern Georgia and throughout much of Florida. Around the Great Lakes, heavy rain for parts of eastern Michigan as well as northwestern Pennsylvania and New York.
