Severe Weather Returns to a Familiar Stretch of the East Today

Severe storms will continue to roar through the Plains, the Midwest, and the eastern U.S. over the back half of the week. Here is a closer look at when and where to expect the disruptive weather over the next few days.

Thursday's Storm Zone Includes Southeast Up Through New Jersey

It is setting up to be a rocky day of weather for a large swath of the eastern U.S. on Thursday. The line of storms is forecast to come together in a zone from northern Mississippi and Alabama through Tennessee, the eastern half of Kentucky, and up into North Carolina, Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula, southeastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. While the day started quietly in this part of the country, forecasters are warning that storms will ignite in the afternoon and evening hours as the mercury rises. The high humidity levels will amplify the storms.

Some of the strongest storm cells will produce rain capable of triggering flash flooding. Localized wind gusts of up to 75 mph are possible at times. You also cannot rule out the threat of isolated tornadic activity. Several large metro areas are under the potential umbrella of storms, including Birmingham, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

A secondary pocket of severe storms is forecast to set up on Thursday over some areas of the Midwest. Hail, heavy rain, and high winds are possible across a swath of land from central Nebraska and into the middle of Minnesota. Cities in the line of fire for this area of thunderstorm activity include Minneapolis and Sioux Falls.