Relentless downpours, waterspouts target the East as severe storms cool off parts of the Gulf Coast
A Level 1 out of 5 severe weather threat covers New York City, Philadelphia, Hartford, Albany, and Boston.
Persistent heavy rain, severe storms keep the East on alert as relief reaches Gulf
Rain and severe weather will keep conditions soggy across the Northeast and Great Lakes on Sunday, with waterspouts possible over the lakes and storm threats stretching south to Georgia and the Gulf Coast. Full forecast:
THE TAKEAWAY
- Rain and severe storms target the Northeast and Great Lakes, spreading south to Georgia and the Gulf Coast.
- Numerous waterspouts will be possible across the Great Lakes.
- Storms will help provide relief from the intense heat across the Southeast.
Another day of rain will keep the weekend soggy across the Northeast and lower Great Lakes on Sunday, as a dip in the jet stream helps fuel thunderstorms from eastern New York and Pennsylvania into southern New England.
Recent torrential downpours have left some soils saturated, which could heighten the risk of localized flash flooding.
FIRST TASTE OF FALL ON THE WAY AS COOLER AIR TARGETS THE EASTERN US
Some storms could turn severe, bringing damaging winds, hail and even waterspouts across the Great Lakes, where peak waterspout season is underway.
Rain and severe storms will also extend southward into Georgia and the Gulf Coast.
![Tornado damage in Dover]()
Image 1 of 2Tornado damage in Dover (Trevor Madonia )
![NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: A thunderstorm passes through midtown Manhattan, seen from the 102nd-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building on August 20, 2026, in New York City.]()
Image 2 of 2NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 20: A thunderstorm passes through midtown Manhattan, seen from the 102nd-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building on August 20, 2026, in New York City. ((Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images))
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A FLOODED ROAD
More threats come just days after Thursday's deadly storms during the height of the evening commute and halted air travel at major East Coast airports.
Floodwaters pour into New York City Subway station.
(@KrisTeschner)
A Colorado man was struck and killed by lightning in Cape Charles, Virginia, just after 3:30 p.m., according to town officials. A woman was hospitalized in the same incident.
Dover, Delaware, took a direct hit from an EF-1 tornado that damaged buildings and knocked out power from downtown and central Dover east toward the North DuPont Highway corridor just before 6:30 p.m.
Tornado damage in Delaware
(Trevor Madonia / FOX Weather)
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that a tornado hit the Long Beach township on Thursday evening. A local beach club in the village of Atlantic Beach said the twister destroyed numerous buildings and cabanas.
Watch: Tornado lifts debris in Atlantic Beach, New York
Tornado lifts debris in Atlantic Beach, New York
On Sunday, the stormy pattern continues across the Northeast and lower Great Lakes.
Atmospheric energy levels and vertical wind shear across this region remain a bit uncertain, according to the FOX Forecast Center, but it is possible the environment could become supportive of strong storms with the potential to produce severe hail and damaging wind.
A Level 1 out of 5 severe weather threat covers New York City, Philadelphia, Hartford, Albany and Boston.
Heavy rain slams New York City on Aug. 20, 2026.
(Jarrod Maloney)
It isn't bad news for everyone, however — areas south of Philadelphia will dry out, clearing the way for favorable race weather at the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in D.C.
Great Lakes waterspout threat
Additionally, the incoming jet stream dip will be uncommonly strong for late August, transporting colder-than-average air both at the surface and aloft.
As this cold air aloft moves over the still-warm Great Lakes, it will destabilize the atmosphere, resulting in the development of lake-enhanced rain showers.
(FOX Weather)
The lake-induced atmospheric instability will provide a prime environment for the development of waterspouts.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the best chance for waterspouts will be over Lake Erie, followed by Lake Ontario and the southern halves of Lakes Huron and Michigan.
WATCH: WATERSPOUT ROARS ONTO NEW JERSEY SHORE BEACH
Storm threats extend into the Southeast
Farther down across the Gulf coast to southeastern Georgia, severe storms will be possible along the same cold front slicing through the Northeast.
Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat with any storm that does develop.
MIAMI TIES IT'S ALL-TIME HOTTEST DAY EVER AT 100 DEGREES
The storms will provide much-needed relief after days of low to mid-90s temperatures and heat indices around 100 to 105 degrees.