Storms with the potential to be severe are expected to roll through the New York region on Thursday afternoon and again Friday, bringing the possibility of damaging winds and large hail that could inflict property damage.
The highest risk for storms will be in the afternoon into evening hours both days, as real-feel temperatures rocket into the upper 90s to as high as 100 degrees, said John Murray, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, in an interview with Gothamist Thursday morning.
The main threat is damaging winds, Murray said, though there’s also a possibility for hail measuring up to one inch in diameter.
The hot air will help thunderstorms develop and intensify, but it’s still hard to say exactly how the elements will converge, Bryan Ramsey of the National Weather Service said on Wednesday. Multiple storm cells could overlap and cause flooding on roads around the city and high winds could damage power lines. There’s also a slight chance of isolated tornadoes, according to the forecast.
“There is a chance that some of the thunderstorms, should they occur, could be on the stronger to severe side of things. Right now, damaging wind gusts of 58 to 70 miles per hour are possible,” Ramsey said. “In some of the storms, that could lead to damaged trees, downed power lines, scattered power outages.”
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the city Thursday and Friday. Cooling centers will be open across the five boroughs, and city agencies can help qualifying residents purchase an air conditioner or fan.
Skies are expected to dry out and calm down on Saturday —– just in time for Knicks fans to take to the streets to watch Game 5 of the NBA finals.
“Even though we stay hot, it does lower humidity, so we don’t have to worry about any dangerous heat indices this weekend,” Ramsey said.
This story has been updated with new information.
Brittany Kriegstein
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