Severe winds, hail forecast to strike I-95 corridor including NYC, Philadelphia

The FOX Forecast Center said the current projections bring possibly severe thunderstorms near the I-95 corridor just as millions head home for their Friday evening commute.

PHILADELPHIAThunderstorms will likely erupt across the Northeast later Friday as a strong cold front plows through the region. 

Ahead of the front, temperatures will be quite warm, reaching the mid-to-upper 80s, the FOX Forecast Center said. The heat and seasonably humid air in place will provide the atmospheric energy needed for storms to grow and strengthen. 

As surface temperatures warm, thunderstorms will likely form in the higher terrain around midday before moving eastward through the afternoon. 

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The brief warmup in the Northeast will be interrupted by a strong cold front, leading to severe storms.
(FOX Weather)


 

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 9 p.m. ET for portions of central and eastern Ohio, southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. The primary threats include scattered damaging wind gusts of up to 70 mph and scattered large hail events with diameters of up to 1.5 inches.

A look at the active Severe Thunderstorm Wacthes in effect for Friday.
(FOX Weather)


 

The FOX Forecast Center said the current projections bring the storms near the I-95 corridor just as millions head home for their Friday evening commute. 

"Between the potential for minor street flooding and strong straight line winds possibly getting in the way of train services, you want to make sure that you're planning ahead," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said.

About 52 million people are living inside a Level 2 out of 5 threat for severe weather, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center. New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore are inside that zone.

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Three-hour radar loop. Warning boxes are color coded as: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in yellow, Tornado Warnings in red, Tornado Warnings with confirmed tornado in purple, Flash Flood Warnings in green, and Flash Flood Emergencies in pink.
(FOX Weather)


 

As storms initially develop, large hail will be the main risk before the threat increases for 60-plus mph winds as the storms reach the I-95 corridor. In addition, a spin up of a tornado cannot be ruled out.

The storms and cold front will bring a swift end to the warmth with pleasant temperatures expected this weekend. But the relief won't last long as a budding heat wave looks to build next week with highs well into the 90s expected for multiple days. 

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