In this early afternoon update, Matt Noyes sums up what the ongoing line of showers, downpours and thunder in Southern New England means for strong thunder potential later, and what areas of the Northeast are most ripe for strong storm development.
As of early afternoon, we’ve seen downpours with embedded thunder across portions of southern New England. Lightning strikes have been scattered, mainly around the Mass Turnpike, heading towards the Boston Metro area. While no government warnings are issued for lightning alone, remember the rule: When thunder roars, go indoors.
The available thunderstorm energy is higher in northern areas like Grafton County, Rutland and Addison Counties, northwest Vermont, and southern Quebec, then again in Northeast PA, Southeast NY and Northern NJ. In contrast, southern New England has less energy due to ongoing downpours that are reducing the available energy. Therefore, we may not see very big storms from Worcester to Boston this afternoon.
There’s more thunderstorm energy in Southeast New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey, and New York City. These areas could see stronger storms later in the day. Additionally, storms are developing in northern New Hampshire, Coos County, and across the border in Quebec.
The cold front is currently moving through Quebec City, bringing drier, cooler air. Despite this, multiple rounds of showers and storms are expected throughout the day, although the available energy for Southern New England is dropping.
By 2 PM, downpours are expected across the Boston and Hartford areas. On Cape Cod, showers may die out due to the ocean’s influence. Stronger storms are anticipated in Maine, Northern and Central New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts, and the Berkshires. Areas from Scranton to Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern Jersey will also see significant storm activity.
This afternoon into evening, central New Hampshire and central Maine may experience strong enough storms to prompt severe thunderstorm warnings. Overnight, downpours and thunder will continue, passing through for many in New England, with some areas in Connecticut potentially seeing rainfall amounts of 2-3 inches, posing a flash flood risk.
Showers will linger in eastern New England on Saturday morning but will improve as the day progresses. For the latest updates and to monitor radar, download our app and use the past plus future option on the radar map for accurate updates.
