Severe storms, downpours to hound Midwest to Northeast
As a heat dome sprawls from the southern part of the Plains to the Southeastern states this week , rounds of thunderstorms and torrential downpours will rim the northern edge from the Dakotas and Nebraska to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and New England.
Most thunderstorms are expected during the afternoon and evening, but some areas could be hit at any time as large clusters of storms roll through overnight.
As severe thunderstorms approach and pass through the region's airport hubs, some ground stops and flight delays could lead to cancellations.
Where downpours repeat hour after hour and day after day, the risk of flooding will increase. Any downpour can lead to flash street flooding. As more downpours occur, the risk will expand to small streams and lead to rises in some rivers.
On Wednesday, the greatest risk of severe thunderstorms will extend from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and southern Ontario to Delaware and New Jersey, and includes Detroit , Cleveland , Toronto , Pittsburgh , Philadelphia and Baltimore .
A large area with a moderate risk of severe weather will extend from Lake Erie to much of western and central New York and northern Pennsylvania.
Some of the more intense storms in this zone will bring the risk of damaging wind gusts and tornadoes, along with flash flooding.
On Thursday, the risk of severe weather will focus a bit farther south and extend from central Ohio to central and eastern Virginia, Delmarva and New Jersey.
Major cities at risk for storms packing high winds and flash flooding on Thursday include Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Virginia; and Baltimore.
A secondary area of severe thunderstorms is expected to develop across parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Thursday afternoon and continue into Thursday evening.
Hail and localized damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph are forecast to be the primary hazards. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 80 mph is forecast, with the strongest thunderstorms capable of downing trees and power lines, causing localized power outages.
Later this week, more torrential downpours and rounds of severe weather are likely in this same zone and others in the Midwest and Northeast before shifting farther south over the Ohio Valley and Southeast this weekend.
People spending time outdoors over the Labor Day weekend, especially those considering camping along small streams, should closely monitor the weather for changing conditions.
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