Locally severe storms to rumble across northeastern US on Friday

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

July 22,2016; 5:40PM,EDT

 

 

The threat for locally damaging thunderstorms will shift into the northeastern United States to end the week.
Residents from New York to Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine should be on alert for locally severe storms on Friday.

"Strong to severe storms will erupt along a front from western New York into New England [on Friday]," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.
Storms could move into places like Boston and New York City in time to disrupt the commute home from work, he added.
A few heavy and gusty but highly localized storms may extend into portions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana.
"The main threat from these storms will be damaging winds and torrential downpours," Sojda explained.
Storms across the Midwestern states caused over 300 reports of wind damage on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
While the threat for wind damage on Friday is not expected to be as nearly as widespread as previous days this week, some communities may still face downed trees and power lines, sporadic power outages and property damage.
"A greater number of locations will experience a brief downpour or two and a breeze, rather than severe weather," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "It may rain for less than an hour or two in many areas."
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Those hoping to beat the building heat and humidity at the local pool, lake or beach should be on the lookout for building clouds and darkening skies.
Seek shelter indoors at the first rumble of thunder, as the threat of being struck by lightning is then present.
While most of the Northeast will dry out for the start of the weekend, a few isolated, gusty storms could linger across New England on Saturday.

"On Saturday, storms with gusty winds and even some small hail may develop in the afternoon across parts of New England," Sojda said.
The greatest threat for widespread severe weather will focus on the north-central U.S. on Saturday, as a potent system clashes with stifling heat and humidity.