Interstate 95 Corridor Next in Line for Debby's Wrath
Alexis Thornton
Last monthThe populated Interstate 95 corridor is next up for what is left of the former Hurricane Debby. The tropical weather maker is forecast to push up the major roadway in the coming hours, impacting metro areas such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. Here is what you can expect heading into the weekend across this part of the Northeast.
Major East Coast Cities Will See Impacts of Debby
Flash urban flooding, severe storms, strong winds, and tornadoes are all on the table in the hours ahead as tropical rainstorm Debby pushes deeper into the Northeast. While the interior portions of the region will see the bulk of the moisture associated with Debby, the impacts will stretch as far as the coastal communities of the East Coast.
It is typical for the steadiest and heaviest rain of tropical weather events to fall to the north and the west of the primary storm track. This is why the interior portions of the region from the central Appalachians and up into the St. Lawrence Valley and New England will see the most intense rainfall. However, storm surge, tornadoes, and more will still be a concern for areas to the east, encompassing the Interstate 95 region.
Compounding the situation is the fact that many cities along this corridor already picked up significant rainfall earlier in the week. This means that any moisture that does fall will raise the risk of urban flooding across the saturated grounds. Forecasters are also warning that the new influx of moisture from the Atlantic Ocean will amplify what is left of Debby along the coastal areas.
The rain bands will impact several large metro areas, including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, Providence, and Boston. The line of rain will stretch as far north as Portland, Maine and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia through Saturday. While the rain will not fall continuously, all of these communities should be prepared for short periods of intense downpours.
River flooding is also a possibility in areas that saw heavy rain a few days ago. The greatest threat will be in a zone from southeastern Pennsylvania and across to New Jersey as well as to the north in southeastern New York and the southeastern corner of New England.
Motorists heading out in this region need to be prepared to use alternate routes. In addition to the chance of ponding on the roadways, debris may also create issues for drivers. The presence of severe weather could also create delays in the air, creating a ripple effect across the country as the storms move through some of the busiest airline hubs.