Intense thunderstorms and high winds are expected to hit the New York City area on Monday, with the possibility of hail and even a rare tornado.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that rains could cause flash flooding, as winds and potential hail bring damage and the possibility of power outages. The storm also has a small chance of causing a tornado, unusual for this part of the United States.
The storm is predicted to hit the city on Monday afternoon, starting around 2pm. Up to half an inch of rain is expected, with wind speeds possibly exceeding 50mph.
Hail of one inch in diameter is possible. Radar forecasts show a wide band of storms passing through the area, with the NWS asking residents to heed any warnings that may arise.
While tornadoes are uncommon in the Northeast, they do occur, including in the New York area. Last November, a series of tornadoes touched down in Long Island, east of the city.
And in 2007, a strong tornado formed over the city’s harbor, moving into southern Brooklyn and damaing multiple buildings.
New York City’s infrastructure has had trouble adapting to recent intense storms. Last summer, Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Henri both dropped massive amounts of rain on the city, causing flash floods and subway shutdowns.
Both of those were tropical formations, while today’s storm is a line of thunderstorms moving in from the west.
Some research has suggested that severe thunderstorms may become more common as the climate warms across much of the globe.
