Severe weather is bearing down on two fronts this week. Storm Surge Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for parts of the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts as Tropical Storm Edouard approaches2, while a separate severe storm threat is building from the Great Lakes to the Northeast.
The system is expected to bring tropical storm conditions and heavy rainfall to Upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coastal areas from Tuesday into Wednesday2.
Severe Weather Along the Gulf Coast
The National Weather Service (NWS), the U.S. government agency that issues official forecasts and warnings, said Tropical Storm Edouard is moving off the central Gulf Coast2. Storm Surge Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings remain active for the affected coastal zones2.
The NWS Fort Worth/Dallas office also reported hot and humid conditions continuing to expand from the Central Plains into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region this week2. Tropical Depression Five, the system that grew into Edouard, was tracked moving west-northwest into the Upper Texas coast, bringing added moisture and rain chances2.
Flash Flood and Fire Risk Elsewhere
Flash flooding risks continue for portions of the Four Corners and Great Basin regions, according to the NWS Chicago office6. Heat risk is also increasing and expanding across the center of the country6.
Severe thunderstorms are forecast for the eastern Great Lakes, southern New England, and into the mid-Atlantic through Tuesday6.
Severe Storms Expected From the Great Lakes to the Northeast
Severe storms and flash flooding threats are expected to stretch from the Great Lakes to the Northeast next week3. The storms could develop Monday night through Wednesday3.
Travel delays are expected across major hubs including New York and Boston as the severe weather threat moves through3.
Earlier Round of Severe Weather Near New York City
Strong to severe thunderstorms brought a flash flood, hail, and tornado threat to the New York City area, according to the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), a U.S. television network, through its New York affiliate4. Heavy downpours were expected to bring rainfall rates of two or more inches an hour, which could trigger isolated flash flooding4.
Damaging straight-line wind, hail, and even a tornado or two were considered possible with the severe storms, while most of the tri-state area was expected to see less than two inches of total rainfall4. Areas where the strongest storms developed could pick up five or more inches, with the highest flash flood risk in the New York City area westward into Central New Jersey4.
Weather Warnings and Watches: How to Track Them
Current severe weather warnings, watches, and advisories across the United States can be tracked on an interactive alerts page that updates every five minutes5.
- Tornado watches and severe thunderstorm watches are displayed on a national severe weather map, with tornado watches shown in red and severe thunderstorm watches shown in blue7.
- A separate severe weather outlook tool shows potential severe weather for a given location based on a map search8.
Weather Warnings Watches: What's the Difference?
A watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, while a warning means severe weather has been detected or is imminent, based on the terminology used across official tracking tools5,7. Both storm surge watches and tropical storm warnings were in effect for the Gulf Coast system as of the latest advisories2.
What to Watch Next
The tropical system remains the most immediate concern for Gulf Coast residents, with tropical storm conditions and heavy rain expected into Wednesday2. Hot and humid conditions are expected to keep expanding eastward into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic through the week2.
Further north, severe storms and flash flooding are expected to develop from the Great Lakes into the Northeast, with the potential for travel disruptions in major cities3. Residents in these areas should keep an eye on official watches and warnings as the threat develops5.
Check the forecast for your city to stay ahead of any severe weather headed your way.