STATE COLLEGE -- reports another show in a seemingly endless parade of severe weather will march today through the Midwest into the Northeast bringing damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and even the threat for tornadoes along with it.

The National Weather Service, State College, forecasts a 40 percent chance of rain today in the local region, increasing to 80 percent on Thursday. Cities and towns most at risk include New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

The worst of the storms will produce damaging wind gusts as high as 70 mph, hail as large as golf balls and perhaps an isolated tornado.

Wind gusts to 70 mph can easily uproot trees, snap off large branches and bring down power lines. Sporadic power outages are possible in some areas. Winds of this strength can also damage roofs and send unsecured objects airborne.

Hail as large as golf balls can cause damage to vehicles and crops. Any people or livestock caught outside can easily be injured.

While the pattern does not favor a large outbreak of tornadoes by any means, a few short-lived twisters are possible, especially across southern Illinois, southern Indiana and western Kentucky.


The most dangerous storms are likely to fire from St. Louis into Indianapolis, Louisville and Cincinnati during the afternoon and evening hours.


Once thunderstorms develop this afternoon, they will strengthen quickly, and dangerous conditions could follow soon after. Dark skies ahead can signal blinding downpours, powerful winds and possible hail. If you get caught driving through this weather, pull over to a safe location, away from any trees or power poles, and wait for it to pass.

A major concern across the region will be very heavy, potentially flooding rain. The storm system has had a history of flooding and producing torrential rainfall on the order of 3 to 6 inches in some communities over the Midwest.

This storm system will have the ability to produce a large area of one to three inches of rain, especially across areas such as Indianapolis, Ind.; Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pa. Flash flooding can easily become life-threatening, and given the already saturated soil across the region, it will not take much rain to cause flooding. Current technology has advanced enough over recent years to provide ample alert of the potential for severe weather and the approach of localized severe storms.

Be sure to understand the difference between a watch and a warning:

-- A watch means that an area is being monitored for dangerous weather.

-- A warning means that dangerous weather is imminent. When a warning is issued, there may be too little time to travel across town or across a county to escape the storm. The time to have a plan of action and move to the general vicinity of a storm shelter or safe area is when a watch is issued.