12:15 PM | ***Strong-to-severe thunderstorm threat late today/tonight in the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor*** — Arcfield Weather

One other parameter that is being monitored for this unfolding severe weather threat is “wind shear” which refers to the variation of wind speed and direction within a short distance in the atmosphere.  With bulk shear values in excess of 40 knots – as is the case now in the Mid-Atlantic region – the chances become better for damaging wind gusts in any thunderstorm development later in the day.  Also, there is enough low-level wind shear to potentially spin up a tornado or two though the odds are higher for the damaging wind gusts. 

As is often the case in summertime patterns, the cold front that comes through the region later tonight will tend to stall out in the southern Mid-Atlantic. While humidity should drop on Wednesday, the fronts proximity will keep it somewhat unsettled as we go through the second half of the work week with a shower or thunderstorm possible on each day.  Finally, there continues to be no sustained heat in sight for the Mid-Atlantic region.  In fact, some western suburbs of Philly have still not reached the 90 degree mark which hasn’t happened since the summer of 2015 (source: ChescoWx, Twitter). 

Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield
arcfieldweather.com

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