Weekly Wrap-Up: Severe Storms Rattle Eastern, Central US; Blanca Makes History in Eastern Pacific

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

June 6,2015; 10:54PM,EDT

 

 

A tornado touches down in Simla, Colorado, on Thursday, June 4, 2015. See video below.

Powerful storms swept across the northeastern United States early this week, bringing flash flooding and damaging winds.
After a dry month for much of the region, rain led to travel disruptions in major areas including Philadelphia, New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey.
Multiple cars were stranded on flooded roads in parts of New Jersey and Rhode Island. In Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, flooding was reported at multiple homes, according to a 911 call center.
Strong, damaging wind gusts also sent trees crashing onto homes, roads and power lines. A gas station in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, suffered severe damage as strong winds ripped its canopy off and two vehicles were uprooted and flipped on their sides.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh also confirmed that a tornado went through the area around 4 p.m. on Sunday.
A swirling cloud was spotted in Sharon, Pa., on Sunday. (Facebook Photo/Pati Hosey)

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Following the stormy start to the week, an April-like chill spread across the Northeast. Clouds and pockets of rain and drizzle dominated the region for much of the week.
Farther west, repeated rounds of storms targeted parts of the northern and central Plains as well as the Front Range of the Rockies, elevating the flood concern and unleashing damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes.
In the Eastern Pacific, Andres weakened into a tropical storm then dissipated, while Blanca strengthened into a major hurricane southwest of Mexico.
This is the earliest on record, since 1971, that two major hurricanes have formed in the Eastern Pacific. There have been four other seasons that have had two major hurricanes develop before the end of June.
While Andres brought only rough surf and rip currents to Mexico, Blanca will bring more direct impacts as it eventually approaches Baja California.
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Areas that suffered widespread damage from Hurricane Odile last year will be on alert for impacts from Blanca. While Blanca is not expected to be as strong as Odile at landfall, it will still be capable of producing life-threatening conditions such as damaging winds, flash flooding and mudslides.
On Tuesday, weather affected rescue efforts in China after a cruise ship carrying more than 450 sank.
Rescue efforts are ongoing on the Yangtze River in the Hubei province of China after the vessel encountered stormy weather and capsized.
Chinese weather authorities have said the ship overturned in a storm with winds up to 130 km/h (80 mph). The same storm produced more than 60 mm (2.36 inches) in only 1 hour across the region.
The boats that travel the river are not designed to withstand winds of this magnitude, as they are not built the same as ocean-faring boats that encounter more extreme weather conditions.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Anthony Sagliani, "A stalled frontal boundary nearby at the time of the accident was causing numerous thunderstorms with gusty winds in the area."
After completing a survey of damage in the area, the China Meteorological Administration stated that an EF-1 tornado moved through the area where the boat capsized.
The Associated Press reported that more than 400 people remain missing with only 14 members of the boat's passengers and crew being rescued as of Wednesday.
In India, a deadly heat wave that claimed at least 1,300 lives in India during the month of May, according to CNN, has ended for now.
The core of the heat was centered from Pakistan eastward across northwest and north-central India, including New Delhi.
A trough of low pressure will remain over northwest India through the middle of the week as clouds and rainfall continue to provide cooling after weeks of extreme heat.
The temperature reached or passed 43 degrees Celsius (109 F) in New Delhi for 13 straight days, with little relief at night.
Temperatures peaked at 46 degrees C (115 F) on May 26. Sunday was the first day that failed to reach 43 C (109 F), ending the streak. Even cooler air arrived on Monday along with a thunderstorm as the high peaked at 37 C (99 F).
While much of India suffers through hot, dry weather in the weeks leading up to the arrival of monsoonal rain each year, the magnitude and duration of the heat this year resulted in life-threatening conditions for millions of people.
Several AccuWeather meteorologists and staff writers contributed content to this article.