Gusty Storms, Flooding Possible in the Northeast

27 Aug 2021, 3:55 pm

With highs in the 90s, plenty of tropical moisture and upper level energy in place across the Northeast, there is a risk for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds this afternoon and evening. Storms will be isolated, but slow moving with wind gusts of 60 mph possible. The slow moving nature will also allow for flash flooding to occur in spots.

Forecast

Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue into the evening. A frontal boundary meeting up with a hot and muggy airmass will allow for storms to develop quickly.

Toward the end of the evening, energy is forecast to diminish. Storms as a result should wind down, but a few may persist overnight. Heavy rain will become the biggest threat but isolated 30-40 mph gusts will be possible with the strongest storms into Saturday morning.

Rainfall

Slow moving thunderstorms will continue on Saturday as energy near the front lingers and tropical moisture pools to the south. Flooding will be possible in spots where thunderstorms train over the same areas. Torrential downpours leading to urban flooding, flash flooding and river flooding are expected.

Excessive Rain Outlooks have been issued to account for the flood potential today and tomorrow. Darker green colors indicate increased chance for flooding.

Widespread rain totals should be around 1″ for most of the region, but isolated amounts of 3-6″ will be possible where the heaviest and nearly stationary downpours set up. The location of the heaviest rain could change but with tropical moisture in place rain rates could exceed 1-2″ per hour.

Heat

Heat alerts are in place for dangerously hot and humid conditions for highlighted areas. This includes the New York City metro, where heat indices could reach 100. Highs will be in the upper 80s and low 90s but high humidity levels will make it feel much hotter.

Today will be the last of the heat alerts as cooler air moves in behind the cold front tomorrow. However, the heavy rain threat will persist tomorrow near the front.

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About the author

Kara James

Kara has always been passionate about weather and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a meteorologist. Living in different regions of the country and experiencing weather events ranging from ice storms to tornadoes drove her to pursue a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout college, storm chasing became a regular event for Kara, where she saw fir... Load Morest-hand the power of the atmosphere. Kara graduated cum laude from OU and decided to further her meteorology education with a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. The deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak struck while Kara was studying at MSU; her first “Dixie Alley” tornado event and an up close glimpse into the destruction of the storms she so closely studied. Her broadcast career began in Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi, where she earned her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Kara's career has included coverage of all types of severe weather including tornado events, flooding and tropical systems across multiple southern states. Recently she helped cover the 2020 Easter Sunday deadly tornado outbreak in southeast Mississippi. In her free time, you can find Kara outdoors exploring new areas with her mini poodle,Truffles. Kara is also an avid runner and frequently races in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. Say hi to Kara on Twitter and Facebook!