Severe storms to threaten wind damage in mid-Atlantic, New England late Tuesday

A swath of severe thunderstorms is forecast to erupt over the central Appalachians on Tuesday afternoon and spread eastward and southward early Tuesday evening.

Major cities that are projected to be in the path of the storms include Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Boston; Wilmington, Delaware; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Hartford, Connecticut.

"The most common characteristics of the storms will be strong, perhaps damaging, wind gusts, while some of the storms may also bring large hail," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey.

Frequent lightning strikes, blinding downpours and isolated flash flooding are also likely.

"A couple of the strongest storms could produce a brief tornado as well," Duffey said.

The area at greatest risk for a isolated tornado may extend from northeastern Pennsylvania to western Massachusetts and central Connecticut.

The first storms are forecast to erupt in parts of northern and western Pennsylvania to central and eastern New York states during the afternoon hours.

The storms are likely to organize into a line that extends from the southern tip of Maine to southeastern Ohio.

This line of storms will then advance southeastward across the Interstate 80, 81 and 95 corridors during the late afternoon and evening rush hour.

Expect airline delays as the storms approach and move through.

Motorists and anyone outdoors should keep an eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions.

See more severe weather that has hit the U.S. this spring:

Never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway. To do so may not only damage your vehicle but may put you and your would-be rescuers at risk.

Seek shelter in a building and not under a tree or canopy during the storm as these are not safe areas during high winds or frequent lightning. If you can hear thunder, you are at risk for being struck by lightning.

The anticipated storms on Tuesday follow a long swath of storms that produced damaging winds from central Ohio to eastern Virginia on Monday.

Wednesday should bring a break of severe weather over New England and the upper part of the mid-Atlantic.

However, showers will frequent areas from Ohio to Pennsylvania and southeastern New York state. Thunderstorms are also likely from near the Mason-Dixon Line on south.

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to spread northward later in the week and into this weekend as tropical moisture moves up from the Southern states.

While there will be the potential for a localized severe thunderstorm, the greatest risk for heavy rain and flash flooding on a regional basis is from Friday to Saturday.