Northeast Tornado and Damaging Wind Threat Today

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The area tinted in brown has a significant tornado threat and the area in yellow has a high (for the Northeast) tornado threat later today.

There is also widespread threat of damaging winds. In the areas hatched, gusts of more than 75 mph may occur.  There will be power failures in these areas. 
So, how to prepare?

Throughout this area, bring in lawn furniture, trampolines, flower pots and other items that could be blown about.

If you don't have a NOAA Weather Radio, you may wish to purchase one or purchase one of the smart phone apps that use GPS to trigger storm warnings for specific locations.

There probably isn't time to get a generator prepared. So, go to Radio Shack, Sears, or a similar store and purchase a power inverter that can keep your cell phone or laptop charged or run a small refrigerator intermittently to keep medicine or other essentials chilled. They are well worth the small investment. Of course, your car's gas tank should be filled and the garage door kept open when running your car and the inverter. You may also need an extension cord(s).

When a tornado watch is issued, keep the kids nearby and make sure that infirm relatives can get to shelter. Where to shelter in a tornado warning?

  • The best place is a basement under the stairwell or study furniture like a pool table. 
  • If you don't have a basement, get into a closet or bathroom in the middle of the house and get into the tub. Put as many walls as possible between you and the tornado.
If you have a work or football helmet, put it on. 

If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued come indoors and stay away from windows.  

If you think sheltering is a good idea, it probably is. Don't necessarily wait for an official warning.

Where are the storms now? 

At 9:13am EDT, a cluster of storms is moving NNE across NJ toward NYC. They are not severe at this point but will cause delays at the NYC-area airport. 

The larger area of storms is still to the west as shown on AccuWeather Regional Radar at 9:06am EDT:

A tornado or severe thunderstorm watch will likely be issued later this morning from central NY into eastern PA.  

Keep up on the weather in these areas today!

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