Volatile Day of Weather on the Horizon for the Eastern U.S. on Wednesday

The storm system that has been menacing a large part of the U.S. with rain, snow, high winds, and more is heading to the East Coast on Wednesday. What can the Atlantic Seaboard expect when this major weather event arrives? Read on for all of the details.

Wild Wednesday in Store for Eastern U.S.

Over 24 million Americans living in a zone from Georgia and to the north into Pennsylvania will be in the potential impact zone of severe weather on Wednesday. Some of the most populated areas in the country are likely to see the wrath of this storm, including New York City, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. The strongest storm cells will pack severe impacts ranging from damaging winds to isolated tornadoes.

It will be a windy Wednesday with gusts eclipsing the 40 mph mark at times for the bulk of the eastern U.S. Winds of this magnitude will inevitably cause travel delays on the roads and in the friendly skies. Dozens of airport hubs will be impacted by the storms, causing a ripple effect on flights throughout the nation's air network.

The silver lining of this particular storm is that it is moving at a fast clip. This means the storms will not train over one specific area for a long amount of time. However, the individual cells could pack quite a punch.

In addition to the usual suspects of high winds and tornadic activity, these storm cells will also carry the risk of hail and flash flooding. The northern flank of the system will continue to produce snow at times.

Enough moisture will fall in an area from the Ohio Valley and over to the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic to raise the concern of flash flooding. This moisture will come as straight rain, squalls, or severe thunderstorms.

Specific Metro Area Forecasts

The sheer size of this storm means that some of the most populated cities in the eastern half of the country will need to be prepared for its impacts. Get out early for outdoor activities in New York City. The rain will develop later in the day, delivering about a quarter of an inch of moisture. It will be a breezy day in the Big Apple with winds out of the south at 20 to 30 mph. Highs will reach about 57 degrees before falling to the 50-degree mark overnight. An additional quarter of an inch of rain is in the forecast after the sun goes down.