Red Alert for severe thunderstorms, possible tornado Sunday

NEW YORK -- Severe thunderstorms are making their way toward New York and New Jersey today, with the chance of a tornado.

The storms are expected to bring torrential downpours, damaging winds, hail and possibly an isolated tornado. Some areas could see 2 to 3 inches of rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding.

Temperatures will be in the upper 80s to 90s, and the heat and humidity will prime the atmosphere for strong to severe storms in the afternoon and evening hours.

Red Alert, heat advisory & high rip current risk

A Red Alert is in place through Sunday night due to the threat of severe thunderstorms. A severe thunderstorm watch has already been issued for much of the area.

A heat advisory is also in place for Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

There is a high risk of rip currents at all south-facing beaches in New York through Sunday.

Timing out the storm

Sunday morning: Some isolated showers and storms are possible this morning before some sunshine breaks out. This will lead to temperatures soaring back into the upper 80s and low 90s, and with such high humidity in place, heat indices will range from the upper 90s to low 100s, especially in central and southern portions of New Jersey. The breaks of sun along with all that heat and humidity, will prime the atmosphere for the development of strong to severe storms in the afternoon and evening hours.

Sunday evening: The storms will come in rounds and may contain damaging winds, hail, torrential downpours, and even an isolated tornado or two. With a tropical airmass in place, the storms will be capable of producing copious amounts of rain, which should average around an inch for most areas, while isolated totals between 2-3 inches are possible. This may lead to some flash flooding.

Overnight: Clearing skies and lowering humidity will follow in the wake of the storms later tonight.

First Alert Weather maps

• Live Tri-State Area radar
• Live Long Island radar
• Live NYC northern suburbs radar
• Live Jersey Shore radar
  
• Tri-State temperatures

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