Storms to Fire Up Across Northeast and New England

Posted: August 18, 2023 10:05 am

The Northeast is in for another round of unsettled weather, piling on to the stormy activity that has impacted the region as of late. While August is not typically distinguished for a stormy weather pattern in this part of the country, that has not been the story this year. In fact, the Northeast has continually faced the threat of tornadic activity on a regular basis this month. Here is a look into the latest forecast.

Advancing Cold Front to Trigger Stormy Activity

Forecasters are warning that another round of severe weather is set to ignite across the Great Lakes late Thursday before moving into the northeastern U.S. and beyond on Friday. The storms will be the result of a cold front that is pushing its way through the region from Canada. This cooler weather is in direct contrast to the sweltering heat that is beginning to take shape over the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley heading into the weekend.

The cool air coming down from Canada will work to bring down the temperatures across parts of the northern U.S. while also helping to alleviate the stifling humidity. The downside is that this front will also work to set the stage for thunderstorm development along the front edge of the mass of cool air.

The greatest threat of storms across the Northeast will be into Friday. These storm cells could usher in damaging wind gusts and small hail.

Thursday’s storm activity will focus on an area in southeastern Michigan, encompassing the Detroit area. The line of storms will dip down into parts of Ohio, bringing the chance of torrential downpours and frequent lightning strikes. You can expect the line of storms to drift into parts of Pennsylvania and New York state.

Friday’s Storms to Target New England With Greatest Intensity

The warmer temperatures ahead of the cold front in New England will fuel the storm development in New England on Friday. The risk of flash flooding will be the prominent feature of Friday’s weather due to a good amount of moisture already in place across the region. This is the same part of the country that has seen repeated downpours throughout the summer, making it more susceptible to flooding every time a new weather maker pushes through.

For example, many areas across New England have measured well over the historical average of rainfall this summer. This is also true for some areas of the central Appalachians.

This storm system will also bring the chance of flooding downpours, strong winds, and hail. Forecasters are also warning that a few tornadoes could spin up out of this system. The interior portions of New England will see the highest threat of tornadic activity.

It could be a rough morning commute for some of the most populated cities on the East Coast. Both New York City and Philadelphia will see a good chance of morning thunderstorms. Any storms that hit the Washington, D.C. area late Thursday will likely move out by early Friday.

However, the storms will linger throughout the day in areas farther to the north. Boston is bracing for the persistent risk of storms throughout the day on Friday. It will not be until the evening hours that the threat of storms moves out into the Atlantic.

Saturday will bring cooler and less humid conditions to the region. However, the mercury will once again be on the upswing by the end of the weekend. Those in the Northeast will want to also be aware of the chance of wildfire smoke from the infernos in Canada filtering back into the area over the weekend.

Heat Dome the Story to End the Week in Central U.S.

While the Northeast is grappling with bouts of severe weather, the central portions of the country will be welcoming a building heat dome that is set to bring some of the hottest temperatures of the summer to the nation’s heartland. Some communities may see record high temperatures challenged as the heat becomes more entrenched.

The heat dome is part of the same area of high pressure that has been roasting the southern Plains over the last several weeks. While it has been a relatively mild summer this year for the Midwest, this is all about to change just in time for the weekend. For example, after seeing readings in the 70s to start the week, Kansas City and its environs will crack the century mark this weekend.

These readings are also expected to linger for a few days, providing no help for the ongoing drought conditions. The weather forecast is also calling for little to no moisture in the coming days. Any rain that does fall will likely be a part of severe storm cells.

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