Severe wx this afternoon, Mid Atlantic is one hot spot!!

[WXBUFFJIM]

Good afternoon everyone. It looks like severe weather will be a huge threat for the Middle Atlantic and northeastern United States from DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and up to New York City. The areas under highest risk maybe in the southern part of this area as there is more heating and instability in northern Virginia and into west central Maryland this afternoon. The main severe threat will be damaging winds of 60-70 mph and isolated tornadoes. Also with very high moisture content, rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour is likely this afternoon and evening. Also excessive CG lightning is expected over the region.

Checking out some temperature obs at noon on 6-17-04, at Martin State Airport near the Chesapeake Bay, it's 84 degrees, dewpoint 77, and heat index 94. In Essex, MD and at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, it's 87, dewpoint 75, heat index 96. At Fredrick, Maryland away from the Chesapeake Bay, it's 91 degrees, dewpoint 81, heat index 110 degrees!!!

A leeside trough over the mountains now will track east later this afternoon. As this leeside trough interacts with the very hot and humid unstable air east of the mountains, severe thunderstorms should just explode later this afternoon and into this evening with damaging wind, flooding rain, and isolated tornadoes. More updates will be issued later today as need be.

Elsewhere across the nation, another area of severe weather will be likely across southeast CO, northeast NM and the TX/OK Panhandles where tornadoes, wind, and hail are possible later today into this evening.

Jim

[Guest]

This could be the one that actually makes it all the way to the coast as the temps even here are running at 87 currently with a dew point of 73 and heat index of 94 which is plenty of juice to keep things going once they do get going on the other side of the bay.

Currently have a few strong storms going in central PA and western MD with another one in the eastern WV panhandle/MD line.

[WXBUFFJIM]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the coast is easily involved in this. It's one of those type of days where that may very well happen with a cluster or MCS type storm.

Right now there is a strong storm near Fredrick where it's 91 with a heat index of 107 and a 79 dewpoint. It's 88 here with a 98 heat index.

I'll definitely watch this throughout the afternoon. Keep us posted King. I'll do the same here as the day wears on.

Jim

[Stephanie]

It has been a hot area in more ways than one! Everynight there's been a thunderstorm rumbling through. The air you can cut with a knife with humidity levels in the 90's and dewpoints in the 70's. Bad hair days that's for sure! We've had almost 5 inches of rain this month and if the storms develop the way they say are today, we're looking to add another inch or two to that total. It should be a fun rush-hour!!!

[Guest]

Severe Thunderstorm watches has been put up for all of PA, DE , NJ and most of MD and ne VA.








BTW temp here is now 91 with a heat index of 100 and the dew point is 73.

[Stephanie]

I just saw that and there's a severe thunderstorm warning for Chester county in PA and Salem county in NJ.

I'm SOOO glad there's air conditioning!

[therock1811]

Also a tornado warning for the Lancaster, PA area right now until 4:30!

[Colin]

Wow...nice line back in C PA...and it will only intensify. VERY juicy air...we could use a good storm though.