Record heat fuels severe weather in Northeast with damaging winds, hail targeting millions on Thursday
Some major cities in the threat zone include, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany, New York, Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
SPC upgrades Thursday severe threat across Northern Arkansas as large hail, damaging winds threaten the region
Thursday’s severe weather threat has been upgraded for portions of Northern Arkansas as large hail and damaging winds threaten millions across the Northeast, extending south into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. FOX Weather Meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Marissa Torres break down what’s happening:
Severe weather is set to continue on Thursday as record warmth grips the Northeast, creating conditions favorable for yet another round of damaging winds and large hail—even an isolated tornado or two cannot be ruled out.
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That moist and unstable air mass, combined with a fast-moving system, will trigger storms across parts of the Northeast extending further south into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.
While a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat remains across portions of the Northeast, parts of northern Arkansas have been upgraded to the same Level 2 threat.
Some major cities in the threat zone include, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany, New York, Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
It’s been an active week, with damaging winds, large hail, and multiple confirmed tornadoes reported across parts of the central U.S.
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On Wednesday, some areas were pounded by hail as large as 2 to 4 inches in diameter, specifically across portions of Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.
Ominous thunderstorm with hail core looms in the distance over Milwaukee. (Madeline / FOX Weather)
Strong winds also roared from Texas to the Great Lakes, with some areas exceeding 65 mph.
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Numerous tornado warnings were also issued across the region, and as the National Weather Service conducts surveys, more information will become available.
But as of Thursday morning, there have been at least 16 confirmed tornadoes this week.
Today, the active trend continues as an area of low pressure will develop across lower Michigan and into upstate New York, while strong southwesterly winds will allow dew points to climb closer to 60 degrees.
And that very warm air fuels enough instability to spark storm development.
Thursday's tornado threat outlook
Across the Northeast, a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm risk is in place from western New York into southern Vermont.
Storms are expected to develop by early afternoon, bringing the potential for damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes are also possible.
Severe storm threats for Thursday (FOX Weather)
The system will also allow beneficial rain to fall across drought-stricken areas of the Northeast, such as portions of New Hampshire and Maine, which remain under Severe Drought.
Through Friday, close to an inch of rain is possible across northern New England and New York, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Meanwhile, farther south and west, a Level 1 out of 5 severe risk has been issued across much of the Ohio Valley and into the Tennessee River Valley.
However, there is now a portion of Northern Arkansas—from Little Rock to Jonesboro—that has been upgraded to a Level 2 out of 5 threat.
Again, record heat will fuel severe storms capable of producing hail up to 3 inches in diameter, along with the possibility of a tornado across Arkansas and the Mississippi River Valley.
And an upper-level disturbance to the north, along with a trailing boundary across the region, will serve as the trigger for severe storms to develop later in the day.
That said, activity will ramp up again on Friday as energy builds with another disturbance moving into the central U.S.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest updates as these storms develop.