[error] MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS OF A TORNADO OVER QUEENS, NY THIS AM, WARNINGS EXTENDED TILL AT LEAST 11.30AM ET FOR BROOKLYN & QUEENS NY [/error]

IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE FROM BALTIMORE ALL THE WAY UP TO NORTHERN NEW YORK AND VERMONT, BE ALERT TO THE SKIES THROUGHOUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING!

While the main line of strong to severe thunderstorms is currently back over Central PA, Western NY along the main cold front right now, there has already been some wild weather out ahead of it over the New York City metro this morning with multiple sightings of a tornado over the Brooklyn area. As much as 1.5 inches of rain fell in 45 mins and strong, gusty winds accompanied these strong tornadic cells as they pushed west to east across the city.

The main line, as you can see from the below warnings charts off the SPC site shows the main action well west and this will all be marching eastbound towards Baltimore to Boston corridor this afternoon.

The reason for this heightened severe weather risk this afternoon is all thanks to a deep trough driving very cool, autumnal air down across the Midwest and Ohio Valley and this, combined with very warm, super rich air surging north up the East Coast ahead of this front is what’s really energizing the atmosphere. The storms will likely grow more intense as they enter a warmer, juicier atmosphere nearer to the coast and that of course could cause big problems siven the population density in this region of the country.

The problem is that as these initial cells from this morning push out into the Atlantic, the sun reappears and heats up the rich, juicy tropical air up and down the Coastal Plain and so this only increases the amount of fuel for these storms to work with.

Another issue is that the SST’s off the coast are much warmer than normal and this could energise these storms as they push through cities such as Baltimore, New York City which are right on the coast, even Philadelphia could see some wild weather.

Keep in mind that the air flowing out of the NW is very cool and dry and supports very cold air aloft so combine cold aloft and behind the front with the super warm, moisture rich energy at the surface in which this front will push into as well as the potential added fuel of abnormally warm sea surface temperatures off the Atlantic will make CAPE values go through the roof.

What’s the risk?

Flooding rains, damaging straight line winds, large hail and yes, even tornadoes, like we’ve already witnessed are a real concern throughout this afternoon really from Baltimore to Northern New England.

Here is a stunning photo and video capturing this morning’s tornado over the Breezy Point area of Queens, NY.

Tags: breezy point tornado, brooklyn tornado, Northeast Severe Weather Outbreak September 2012, NYC tornado Sept 2012