High Threat of Severe Weather Today

A large complex of thunderstorms is rolling through Albany and Southern VT right now.  Here is the radar image

National Weather Service Albany radar image

There are two things that will happen to this complex as it moves into Southern New England.  It will weaken due to natural daytime decay, but more likely this line will strengthen as the heating of the day makes the atmosphere unstable in our region.  As of this writing there are no severe weather watches or warnings but that will change as the day progresses.  The first line of storms will begin to impact the region after noontime.

The biggest threat from these thunderstorms are damaging straight line winds.  Tornadoes are possible today, but because these thunderstorms are likely to form "squall lines" which usually generate damaging straight line winds and damaging hail.  Flash flooding is also possible in poor drainage areas.  Stay inside when these thunderstorms hit.  I'll be posting updates on Facebook linking directly to the blog.

In other weather news, Tropical Storm Bret has strengthened to 50 mph.  It likely will strengthen to 65-70 MPH, falling just short of Hurricane strength.  Bret is an interesting system.  It did not develop from pure tropical origins so it isn't a signal that Hurricane season is about to ramp up.  However it is a reminder that the global models do not always pick up on tropical cyclones that do not form from pure tropical origins.  Joe Bastardi calls them "home brew" storms.   So while deep tropic formation of Hurricanes will start in August, its important to pay attention to old frontal boundary's and persistent thunderstorms.  Bret will go out to sea because the frontal boundary that will produce our severe weather will capture the storm and kick it out.  But a rip current risk is growing for later in the week.

Tropical Storm Bret courtesy of NOAA GOES satellite