Severe Thunderstorm Threat In The Hudson Valley: NWS

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A heat advisory remain in effect until Saturday evening for the lower Hudson Valley — the heat index is expected to reach 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit — but the main weather news is the threat of severe thunderstorms.

In a briefing titled "High Heat and Humidity/Severe Thunderstorm Threat Today," the National Weather Service predicted the main impacts:

• Damaging Wind: Wind gusts of 58 to 70 mph could damage trees and power lines and result in scattered power outages.
• Low risk for a brief tornado.
• Localized large hail to 1 inch in diameter could result in minor damage to motor vehicles.
• Localized flash flood threat if multiple storms move over the same area, with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches/hr

Localized flash flooding is also possible, especially where storms repeatedly move across the same areas. A slight risk for excessive rainfall is also possible for the Mid-Hudson.

While the NWS predicted the storm timing would be 3-9 p.m., the folks at Hudson Valley Weather said passing showers and storms were likely through the morning for the southern end of the region, and then for all from noon on.

"The storms are unlikely to organize into a solid line that advances across the entire region, meaning that some areas may be missed by potent thunderstorms and may only experience a brief shower or could miss out on the rain entirely," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

The heat and humidity mean increased demand for electricity that can pose challenges to the electric delivery system, in some instances, overheating electrical equipment and resulting in scattered power outages. Utility crews are also prepping to respond to storm damage.

The good news is that the storm front will bring cooler air behind it.

"The aggressive warmth and humidity in the Northeast in recent days will be erased in many areas by the second half of the weekend, bringing some much-needed relief to the region," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis said.

Smoke from wildfires in North America continues to bring haze to the region.

Here are the next 48 hours at a glance, based on Nyack: