Areas of the East Coast saw damage from strong winds and flooding from heavy rain yesterday as the threat will continue as thunderstorms roll through the area today; plus more of today’s weather news and forecast
Continuing storm-related threats for East today
Storms on Thursday left widespread damage from strong winds and flooding from heavy rain that exceeded 4 inches in some areas, as thunderstorms will continue throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday from the Carolinas to Maine.
This potentially adds to an already precarious situation in some locations, as crews are still working to restore power to thousands in several states.
Thunderstorm forecast for Friday
In the East, the National Weather Service is forecasting thunderstorms across these areas:
The Appalachians and portions of eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, eastern Kentucky, southwestern and eastern Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
In the Ohio Valley, thunderstorms are forecast over central Indiana, Southwest Ohio, and north-central Kentucky.
In the central US, thunderstorms are forecast for portions of western and northern Texas, western Oklahoma, Northwestern Kansas, most of Nebraska, Southern South Dakota, northern North Dakota, Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa.
In the West, thunderstorms are forecast for northern Utah, northern Colorado, central and southern Wyoming.
Widespread damage in East, upper Midwest from Thursday’s storms
There was widespread damage throughout the East from Thursday’s thunderstorms. Thousands are still without power in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Maine, while nearly a thousand are without electricity in Virginia.
Areas of Pennsylvania saw over 4 inches of rain that has led to flooding and closed roads. More flooding is expected as rain will continue today causing creeks to crest and overflow.
Powerful winds took down power lines and trees, causing damage to some homes. In New Jersey, wind gusts took down a powerline at a car dealership, striking cars and sending it at least 16 vehicles up in flames.
In the upper Midwest, in Michigan, heavy rain caused Muskegon Lake, which has a direct connection to Lake Michigan, to overflow and cause flooding in Muskegon, filling some homes with as much as two feet of water.
Areas around Chicago and Northern Illinois received more than 4 inches of rain.
Today’s US highs
West: San Francisco 66; Los Angeles 81; Reno 72; Las Vegas 96; Salt Lake City 71; Denver 83.
Northwest & Northern Rockies: Seattle 66; Medford 73; Boise 67; Billings 69; Minot 66; Rapid City 71.
Southwest: Phoenix 102; Albuquerque 90; El Paso 98; San Antonio 93; Brownsville 90.
Central & Upper Midwest: Lubbock 99; Dallas 90; Oklahoma City 90; Kansas City 82; Minneapolis 73.
Ohio Valley: Chicago 60; St. Louis 79; Detroit 65; Cincinnati 67.
South: Houston 86; New Orleans 81; Memphis 81; Atlanta 74; Charlotte 70; Jacksonville 82; Tampa 80; Miami 82.
East: Norfolk 64; Washington, D.C. 64; Buffalo 54; New York City 64; Boston 61; Bangor 53.