Damaging storms to target eastern US Friday

By Andy Mussoline, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

July 7,2016; 8:50PM,EDT

 

Locally damaging and life-threatening thunderstorms will erupt Friday afternoon from Buffalo, New York, to Pittsburgh and Louisville, Kentucky. Farther east, thunderstorms will rumble into areas from New York City to Washington, D.C., Friday night.
"Thunderstorms can turn severe Friday afternoon, especially after 3 p.m.," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. "The most prevalent threats will be flooding downpours and damaging winds in the strongest thunderstorms."
In addition to heavy rain and damaging winds, hail may be a risk with the strongest thunderstorms.

Those traveling in the region via interstates 90, 86, 80, 70, 79 and 64 should be prepared for rapidly changing weather. Near-zero visibility will occur in the heaviest rainfall. Expect occasional airport delays as severe thunderstorms threaten runways.
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Downed trees and sporadic power outages may occur across the region as well during the storms. Heavy rain may temporarily flood small streams, streets and poor-drainage areas.
Friday's threat will follow a round of severe thunderstorms targeting the Midwest and Ohio Valley through Thursday night.

The storm system producing Thursday's threat will cross the Great Lakes on Friday to fuel the additional rounds of severe weather.
The majority of the severe thunderstorms will diminish after 8 p.m. Friday evening. However, there will be an ongoing threat for heavy thunderstorms Friday night farther east.
Spotty thunderstorms will cross in the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to Washington, D.C., Friday evening and night.
"A few of the thunderstorms will still be strong with gusty winds and flooding downpours," AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore said.
In wake of the volatile weather, more tranquil and increasingly comfortable weather will settle in for the weekend.

"There will finally be some relief from the heat and thunderstorm potential later this weekend and early next week," DeVore said.