Millions of people across the East Coast and Ohio Valley could see more strong thunderstorms through this weekend, bringing pockets of torrential rain and a risk of flash flooding after storms swamped parts of the Northeast earlier this week.
This comes as abundant moisture continues to surge northward due to a high-pressure system positioned just off the east.
This setup is funneling Atlantic moisture inland ahead of an approaching cold front, allowing showers and thunderstorms to develop across the eastern U.S. and keeping conditions unsettled through the weekend.
Severe storms rocked the Interstate-95 corridor on Friday, with major cities like New York City put under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Flash Flood Warning.
Newark Airport recorded a 52 mph wind gust as the storms moved through.
At its peak, more than 40,000 people were without power across New Jersey, 20,000 people were without power in New York and 15,000 were without power across Pennsylvania, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
SOUTHWEST HEAT TO REBUILD DAYS AFTER WIDESPREAD RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES
More storms are possible on Saturday, but they mainly will produce flash flooding and some damaging winds.
A Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk is in place across much of the Northeast, Ohio Valley and Southeast through Saturday. This includes major cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Atlanta.
FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE AS UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE FUELS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTHEAST
However, not everyone along the East Coast will experience heavy rain. Areas that miss out on the storms will instead contend with hot and humid conditions.
Heat alerts have been issued from Philadelphia to Boston, where heat index values could climb above 100 degrees in some locations. Those alerts could be extended into Saturday.
Residents across parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic should expect widespread rainfall totals of 0.5 to 1 inch, with localized amounts of 1 to 2 inches or more where thunderstorms repeatedly track over the same locations through Saturday and Sunday.
Additional heavy rainfall could impact communities that experienced significant flash flooding last month. For example, Bridgeport, CT, has recorded more than 7 inches above average rainfall this year, while Albany, NY, is running more than 5 inches above average, leaving both areas more vulnerable to additional flooding.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest forecast updates.
The post Millions along East Coast face flash flood threat as heat, humidity continue to fuel weekend severe storms appeared first on Fox Weather
