The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center predicts tornadoes from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Georgia and Florida on Wednesday. In their most recent Convective Outlook, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) indicated an area along the East Coast with a high probability of tornados.
Most people will not see tornadoes in this area, but the National Weather Service warns that some thunderstorm cells may become tornadic on Wednesday. In addition to tornadoes, there is a potential of destructive winds and huge hail.
According to the SPC, severe thunderstorms capable of producing scattered damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are expected on Wednesday across sections of the eastern Carolinas and southeast Virginia. Other strong to severe storms are possible in sections of Florida and east Georgia, as well as from the Allegheny Plateau to the Mid-Atlantic.
This is because a powerful and deep mid/upper-level shortwave trough will sweep across the eastern continental United States on Wednesday, as an intense occluding cyclone travels northeastward from central Illinois to the lower Great Lakes region and finally into southwestern Quebec.
Intense wind fields will support the danger of at least isolated destructive winds as these storms move eastward throughout the day. A severe tornado is probable, particularly if embedded supercell formations can be sustained in parts of the Mid-Atlantic.
Other strong to potentially severe storms are expected from eastern Georgia to the Florida Peninsula, particularly early in the day before the thunderstorm activity moves offshore. On the northern side, from the Allegheny Plateau to the northern Mid-Atlantic, conditions are likely to remain favorable for structured storms, with the possibility of a few supercells and/or organized line segments.
The fiercest storms in this region may be accompanied by damaging winds, localized hail, and potentially one or two tornadoes, particularly in the afternoon and early evening.
The National Weather Service may issue Severe thunderstorms and/or Tornado Watches and Warnings on Wednesday as the severe storm threat grows.
Reference: National Weather Service Warns of Risk of Wednesday Tornadoes from New Jersey to Florida
