Northeastern U.S. Faces Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Risk Saturday
The National Weather Service rates the tri-state area at level 2 of 5 for severe weather on Saturday, with threats including strong winds, flash flooding, isolated tornadoes and hail.
A vigorous storm system moving across the northeastern United States on Saturday is expected to bring strong to severe thunderstorms to the New York City metropolitan area from late morning through the evening. The National Weather Service assigned the tri-state region a level-2 risk on a five-point scale, indicating potential for damaging straight-line winds, flash flooding, isolated tornadoes and hail.
The most intense storms are forecast for the Poconos, Catskills and northern New Jersey, where the likelihood of straight-line wind damage and tornadoes is highest. Further east, the risk lessens but does not disappear. Moisture in the atmosphere could produce heavy rain, with up to three to four inches possible, raising flash-flood concerns for northern and central New Jersey, the New York City metro area, Long Island and coastal Connecticut.
Central and southern New Jersey face the greatest chance of hail.
"The National Weather Service puts the tri-state at a level 2 on a scale of 5 for severe weather risk," a spokesperson said.
The storm system is also expected to disperse Canadian wildfire smoke that has been affecting the region.