Severe thunderstorm watch issued as storms target East Coast

Severe weather is set to hit the I-95 corridor, potentially affecting areas from New Jersey to Virginia after storms blasted the eastern half of the US with damaging wind and heavy rain Monday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are making thier way through, impacting nearly 80 million people from southern New England into the Southeast and the lower Great Lakes vicinity.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This comes as a slow-moving cold front slides along the Eastern Seaboard.

It is expected to spark more showers and storms, which may reach severe limits, producing damaging winds up to 60 mph and quarter-size hail. 

Earlier in the morning, widespread rain and storms moved across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, leaving commuters a messy start to their day. Air travelers can also expect delays Tuesday due to wet weather from Boston to New York, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

While widespread severe weather is not expected, the storms could down trees and power lines and lead to minor property damage.

A Flood Watch is in effect for much of the region through the morning, as the rain could lead to some flash flooding.

“What we’re working with on radar right now is more inconvenient than anything else. But we did have some stronger storms last night,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “But we’re not done just yet.”

On Monday, heavy rain flooded the streets of Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. 

Officials said multiple dogs died from flash flooding at a doggy daycare in DC after severe storms produced flash flooding. Six feet of water was said to have filled the area, where crews worked to pull those stuck inside their cars and businesses.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has placed areas of southern Delaware, eastern Maryland, southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina at a Level 2 out of 5 on its thunderstorm risk scale.

The highest severe-thunderstorm coverage is expected from the southern Delmarva vicinity into North Carolina, the SPC said.

Some larger population centers in the risk area include Virginia Beach, Virginia, Raleigh and Greensboro in North Carolina and Norfolk and Chesapeake in Virginia.