Severe storms to wash northeastern US with flooding rain on Tuesday

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

August 16,2016; 4:44PM,EDT

 

 

The severe weather risk will ramp up in the northeastern United States as a widespread batch of gusty thunderstorms and locally heavy rain develop over the region into Tuesday evening.
The storms will bring the risk of isolated flash flooding, sporadic power outages and travel delays in the Interstate 80, I-81, I-90 and I-95 corridors.

"A slow-moving front will pull plentiful tropical moisture northward from the Gulf Coast," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ed Vallee said.
Due to the ample amounts of heat and moisture across the region, there will be some strong storms from the near the Ohio/Pennsylvania border to northern Virginia, northern Maryland, northern Delaware, New Jersey, New York state, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and the southern parts of Vermont and New Hampshire. Locally damaging winds and blinding downpours will be threats across these areas.
There is the potential for a couple of the strongest storms to produce a tornado as well, according to AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos.
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"The greatest chance of a tornado extends from part of the Hudson Valley to the Connecticut River Valley," Avalos said.
Periods of rain and thunder are expected to occur along a path from the eastern Great Lakes to northern New England into Tuesday night.
"Some of the downpours will be capable of producing several inches of rain in only a few hours and inundating low-lying and poor drainage areas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Andy Mussoline said.
Downpours and locally gusty storms could cause delays near major airport hubs, including in the Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston areas.

Motorists should prepare for slower-than-normal commutes and reduced visibility from heavy rain along area interstates.
While being a nuisance to outdoor plans and travel, the rain will continue to be beneficial from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York state, northern New Jersey and New England. Much of this area has been abnormally dry or experiencing drought conditions this summer, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
As the front pushes southward, the risk of storms will end for much of New England and the upper part of the mid-Atlantic on Wednesday.
Temperatures will be trimmed by several degrees, but humidity levels will remain high, especially along much of the I-95 corridor.
People hoping for more significant relief from high humidity will have to wait until early next week.
Story content contributed by Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.