Severe storms threaten flash floods and tornadoes for over 32 million along the I-95 corridor

Beginning Thursday evening, a vigorous storm complex will sweep across the East Coast, exposing more than 32 million people along the I-95 corridor to flash-flood danger from southern Connecticut down to Virginia, including the major metros of New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. A level 3/4 flood alert has been issued for central and northern New Jersey and New York City, while a tornado watch covers about 15 million residents across parts of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia until 10 p.m. ET.

The system follows a cold front that earlier produced severe weather in Arkansas, Kentucky and Indiana, where a tornado warning was also issued. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and Weather Prediction Center have assigned Level 2 and Level 3 flash-flood risks along the corridor, with rainfall potentially reaching two inches per hour. The front is expected to stall over the Northeast coast, extending the threat into Friday and the weekend, with additional rain possible across the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas.