Strong and severe thunderstorms are still a threat across the East Coast this evening, likely affecting this evening`s plans along the highly populated Interstate 95 corridor of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat, although some large hail and even an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

Strong-to-severe storms are also possible along the northwestern Gulf Coast this evening, with damaging winds being the primary threat

Due to a threat for severe storms and isolated tornadoes, a Tornado Watch is in effect across eastern Massachusetts. This includes the city of Boston and also Cape Cod, Mass.

Along the Gulf Coast, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana, including San Antonio and Houston, Texas, and Lakes Charles and Alexandria, La.

The impetus of today`s severe storm threat is large storm complex over the Great Lakes and its attached strong cold front extending from north Texas to eastern Ohio. Hot, humid air is being pumped northward in advance of the cold front that will push into the Appalachians this afternoon and eventually across the mid-Atlantic and onto the East Coast.

This front, along with the hot and humid air in place, will trigger lines of strong and severe thunderstorms through the evening from the Mid-South all of the way into southern New England. The thunderstorms over southern New England are growing in this humid air and powered by strong upper-level winds roaring over New England.

The strongest storms will fire from the Carolinas northward into New York and the Green Mountains. Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, N.Y., New York City, Richmond, Va., Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C., and Columbia, S.C., will all see chances storms today and tonight.

Destructive wind gusts up to 60 mph will be the greatest concern, although large hail will also be possible. Even a tornado cannot be ruled out along the energetic low`s path across western New York, northeast Pennsylvania, and northern New Jersey. Here, wind shear, or twisting of wind with height will be maximized in the lowest part of the atmosphere.

Even before the front arrives, batches of storms are patrolling the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic before only increasing in coverage as the day continues.

Severe weather reports piled up across the eastern half of the U.S. on Thursday. Several trees were uprooted in thunderstorms in Lexington, Ind., while trees and power lines were also snapped near Linden, Ind. A 60 mph wind gust was measured in Jasper, Ind., while Bloomington, Ill., recorded a wind gust of 65 mph. Hailstones larger than golf balls also pelted several communities from Iowa to Ohio.

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