Increasing Convective Threat in Mid-Atlantic (Credit: NWS Storm Prediction Center and WeatherTAP)

DISCUSSION: As the steaming hot weather trends continue to persist across much of the nation, this also favors the re-occurrence of classic Summer-time thunderstorm activity.  Often times, during the hottest days of the Summer, there occasionally can still be instances in which weak areas of low-pressure propagate across large regions over the course of 1 to 3-day periods.  Such thunderstorm events are very often observed and recognized as mesoscale convective systems (MCS).  MCS's are large, intense thunderstorm clusters which often form during the late Spring to Summer-time period (i.e., anywhere from late May to mid-August).  Most often, these types of thunderstorm events are observed in association with the coldest cloud top temperatures (on infrared satellite imagery) near or around the center of the upper-most parts of the thunderstorm complex.

For the particular situation which is developing today, there is a previously intense MCS trying to become re-invigorated by the diurnal mixing (i.e., the vertical mixing of temperature imbalances) being induced by the intense heat and humidity in place across the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states.  Having said that, as shown in the upper-most image attached above (courtesy of the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center), there is an increasing concern for strong to severe thunderstorm activity across portions of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States over the course of the next few hours.  Therefore, if you live in these areas, it is imperative to remain weather-ready and keep your eyes to the skies.

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©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz