Severe storms threaten major East Coast cities with 70 mph winds, flooding
Forecasters warned of winds topping 70 mph in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington as rain raised flash-flood risk along the I-95 corridor.
Forecasters warned of winds topping 70 mph in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington as thunderstorms and heavy rain raised an increased urban flood threat along the I-95 corridor. The National Weather Service said major metros from Washington to Philadelphia were on watch as the storm line pushed through the Mid-Atlantic.
The threat came after a punishing stretch of heat and humidity. NBC News said at least 18 record highs were set on July Fourth in mid-Atlantic cities including Washington and Baltimore, a setup that helped fuel another round of severe weather. FOX Weather said temperatures had surged into the 90s and lingering moisture left behind by Tropical Depression Chantal helped trigger soaking thunderstorms that snarled travel along the corridor.
Maryland saw some of the hardest hits. NBC News said winds in parts of the state reached 80 mph, while coastal areas were flooded and parts of Baltimore and Annapolis were underwater. Those conditions turned streets into waterways and left the Baltimore region dealing with water and wind damage at the same time.
Philadelphia has been hit repeatedly by the same kind of summer storm. FOX 29 Philadelphia said severe storms brought 60 to 70 mph straight-line winds, damaged buildings, knocked down trees and left thousands without power. The station also said the city declared a disaster emergency after microbursts tore through Philadelphia, underscoring how quickly a fast-moving storm can strain power lines, road crews and emergency response.
The National Weather Service office in Philadelphia and Mount Holly issued flash flood and severe storm briefings for eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore during July storm episodes. That regional footprint shows why densely built cities along the Northeast corridor remain so exposed: Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City sit on the same storm track, with little room for saturated streets, blocked drains and utility outages when high winds and intense rain peak together.
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