Severe Storms Pittsburgh to Montreal
May 29, 2012; 8:00 PM
Locally damaging severe thunderstorms will rumble across the eastern Great Lakes and the Northeast later this afternoon and evening.
A cold front, already producing thunderstorms will march eastward across the Ohio Valley and slice into the hot, humid and steamy in place over the Northeast.
Storms were already pounding areas from western Tennessee and Kentucky to Ohio and southwestern Ontario. Louisville, Ky. was hit with 3.00 inches of rain in as many hours during morning rush today, which resulted in flash and urban flooding, and a commuter's nightmare.
As the sun heats the ground and the air warms ahead of the front in the Northeast and central Appalachians, extra fuel will be added to the eastward-moving storms.
Cities that will need to keep an eye to the sky later this afternoon include: Montreal, Burlington, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton, State College, Altoona, Pittsburgh, Scranton and Harrisburg.
The greatest threats with today's storms are flooding downpours, frequent lightning, damaging winds, and large hail.
Straight-line winds reaching 60 mph in some locations can cause downed trees and power lines, which can lead to power outages.
Hailstones up to the size of half dollars can shatter windows and cause significant damage to structures.
Downpours can cause a number of problems ranging from very poor visibility to flash flooding. Places with saturated ground from previous storms are at greater risk for quickly rising water and flooded roadways.
Never drive through water-covered roadways. Turn around and seek an alternative route to reach your destination.
Heed all watches and warnings and be sure to have a plan in place before severe weather threatens your area.
As the thunderstorms roll into the Appalachians and cross part of the St. Lawrence Valley, additional heavy thunderstorms can fire up in the I-95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
Behind the cold front, much more comfortable air will filter into the Northeast for Wednesday. Temperatures will be cooler and it will feel significantly less humid.
Keep checking back with AccuWeather.com for the latest severe weather updates.
Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski contributed to the content of this story.