The National Weather Service issued a series of forecasts Sunday night and Monday, warning of “widespread” and “severe” thunderstorms across the eastern United States.
The extreme weather is anticipated to hit from Philadelphia to Atlanta, bringing “swaths of damaging wind gusts, hail, a few tornadoes and heavy rain,” according to the NWS. The tornado threat is predominantly centered on a swath of territory comprising Pittsburgh; Cleveland; Columbus; Richmond; Washington, D.C. and Baltimore and stretching down down through Charlotte, North Carolina, and into northern Georgia.
A very active start to the work week (#Monday) with a widespread threat for #severe thunderstorms across the Eastern U.S., per our colleagues @NWSSPC. From Philadelphia to Atlanta, these storms may contain swaths of damaging wind gusts, hail, a few tornadoes and heavy rain. pic.twitter.com/u0pxdyWfZj
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 6, 2023
Large hail could also strike the same area, spreading east as far as Raleigh, North Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky. This is one of the first times that Washington, D.C., has been placed in a 45 percent wind risk zone on a storm prediction center forecast, according to one meteorologist who was retweeted by the NWS. (RELATED: Video Shows Aftermath Of Rare Apocalyptic Weather Event)
Washington, D.C., was also placed under a flood watch on Sunday night through to Monday morning as heavy rainfall swept through the district. All regions under risk are all being cautioned to watch for flooding, though the risk is projected to be low for most places.
Meanwhile, Florida will be hit by “unusually oppressive heat and humidity” throughout the week, NWS forecast. Temperatures may exceed 110 degrees in some parts of the state.