Severe thunderstorms and flooding expected across the Northeast Thursday
A flood watch covers the I-95 corridor from New York City to Washington, D.C., as heavy rain, strong winds and hail are forecast for Thursday afternoon and evening.
More than 38 million residents from New York City to Washington, D.C. are preparing for a severe weather system that could bring flash flooding, damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes on Thursday. The storm will affect a broad area of the Northeast, extending from Syracuse, New York and Vermont down to Virginia.
Meteorologists say the Interstate 95 corridor could see rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, with some locations accumulating up to 5 inches of rain. The storms are expected to develop around 1 p.m. and persist in a scattered pattern through the afternoon and evening.
"The worst of the storms will likely strike New York City between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and reach Philadelphia and D.C. between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.," a weather spokesperson said.
A flood watch has been issued for New York City, the Hudson Valley, much of New Jersey and Philadelphia from noon through the evening.