38+ million Americans face severe storm, flash flood risks across the Northeast

Key Points:

• Over 38 million Americans in the Northeast are under a Level 2 severe weather threat on Thursday, with major cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York City facing risks of damaging winds, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
• New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore are under a Level 1 tornado threat, marking the seventh time this year the metro area has been warned of tornado risks, a significant increase from last year's single occurrence.
• Scattered thunderstorms, including possible supercell storms with damaging winds up to 60 mph, large hail, and a few tornadoes, are expected to develop in the afternoon and continue into the evening as a cold front moves eastward.
• Flash flooding poses an additional hazard, especially in areas like Philadelphia and southern New York state, where a Level 2 flash flood risk is in effect, with localized rain totals of 1 to 2 inches expected and Flood Watches issued for over 25 million people.
• Leftover storm clouds may also obscure the partial lunar eclipse visibility late Thursday night across the affected regions.