New round of feisty storms to sweep through northeastern US ahead of cooldown

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

Before cooler, less humid air plunges into the northeastern United States, interior areas will first be threatened by potentially damaging thunderstorms into Thursday night.

The thunderstorms will target locations that were spared by the severe weather at midweek, which focused on the Northeast's Interstate 95 corridor.

"Thunderstorms will develop along a cold front as it moves across the Great Lakes and interior Northeast," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.

The stark contrast between the cool air behind the front and very warm air ahead of it will give the thunderstorms a boost in intensity.

A line of severe storms swept across most of western and central New York on Thursday afternoon with wind gusts blowing down trees and leaving more than 15,000 people without power. 

A severe thunderstorm moving into Oswego, New York, on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. (Twitter/@RobertBiancoWx)

People spending time outdoors should be on the lookout for rapidly changing weather conditions and move indoors, away from windowsat the first rumble of thunder.

"With at least some sunshine to heat the atmosphere, the thunderstorms will expand and intensify," Adamson said.

Despite the quick-hitting nature, the thunderstorms can still pack a punch with hail, damaging winds and torrential downpours being the main threats. 

Wind gusts can be high enough to topple over trees and power lines, while downpours bring sudden reductions to motorists on the roadways.

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"The storms will then weaken around sunset, and should fall apart well west of the cities along I-95," Adamson said.

Those who may be left without power or cleaning up storm debris will not swelter amid heat and humidity behind the storms, as the door will be opened for refreshing air to move into the entire Northeast on Friday.

Download the free AccuWeather app to keep track of when severe weather will threaten your area. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.