Severe Thunderstorm Warning in Effect: Latest Radar, Impact Areas & Essential Safety Steps

Residents across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are bracing for a volatile afternoon and evening as the National Weather Service (NWS) issues multiple severe thunderstorm warnings and an upgraded “moderate” risk outlook for Thursday, June 19, 2025. Meteorologists warn that a powerful cold front slicing into tropical air will create an explosive environment for storms capable of producing 60–75 mph wind gusts, ping-pong-ball-size hail, isolated tornadoes and flooding downpours. Key threat zone • New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and much of Maryland sit in the bullseye, with storms expected to fire after 2 p.m. and race eastward through roughly 10 p.m. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center elevated the region to a Level 4/5 (“moderate”) risk early this morning, citing dramatic wind-shear and extreme surface instability. • Farther north into the Hudson Valley, New York City and southern New England, a separate line of storms could reach metro areas during the evening commute, posing a secondary round of damaging winds. Active warnings & watches A Severe Thunderstorm Watch blankets all 21 New Jersey counties until 9 p.m., with individual warnings already triggered in Somerset, Mercer, Burlington and Ocean counties as radar detects cores of 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail. Similar watches extend southwest through Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Why today’s storms are dangerous • Wind damage: Straight-line gusts over 70 mph could topple trees and powerlines, leading to scattered outages and blocked roadways. • Large hail: Updrafts exceeding 50 mph may loft hailstones big enough to dent vehicles and shatter skylights. • Tornado potential: Localized rotation along the pre-frontal trough means brief, rain-wrapped tornadoes cannot be ruled out, especially west of the I-95 corridor. • Flash flooding: Training cells could dump 1–3 inches of rain in under an hour, rapidly overwhelming urban drainage. Safety advice that saves lives 1. When a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, move to an interior room on the lowest floor—tornado-style precautions apply. 2. Secure loose outdoor items; patio furniture becomes dangerous debris in high winds. 3. Charge phones and back-up batteries before storms arrive in case of prolonged outages. 4. Never drive through flooded roadways—“Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” 5. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on smartphones to receive real-time, geotargeted warnings. Travel & commuting impacts Flights into Newark, Philadelphia and Baltimore–Washington International face ground stops or delays during peak storm hours. Rail operators along the Northeast Corridor caution riders to monitor alerts for potential service suspensions caused by debris on tracks or signal outages. Evening rush-hour motorists should plan alternate routes or leave work early to avoid driving through the most intense cells. What happens after the storms Behind the front, forecasters expect a brief lull Friday before a dome of heat builds this weekend. Highs may surge into the upper 90s with dangerous heat indices over 105 °F, compounding any lingering power-outage issues. Stay informed Follow your local NWS office on social media, listen to NOAA Weather Radio and keep our live blog bookmarked for minute-by-minute radar updates, shelter information and power-outage maps. Severe weather evolves quickly, but timely preparation today can prevent tomorrow’s headlines.