Heavy rain and wind nearing East Coast, but derecho fails to form

A line of storms continued its march to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, bringing high winds and threats of flooding to the East Coast after causing power outages through the Midwest.

The storm system, originally billed as a meteorological event known as a derecho, was less widespread than originally forecast. A derecho is a line of storms carrying high, straight-on winds that stretches for at least 240 miles.

Even though the storm system failed to form to that degree, it did contain winds of up to 70 mph as it crossed the nation heading for Washington, D.C. and the Mid-Atlantic region. The National Weather Service issued flash-flood warnings and thunderstorm watches and warning through the Mid-Atlantic states.

“The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms on Thursday for parts of the Mid-Atlantic, with a slight risk area from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast states. Significant wind damage expected, along with the possibility of large hail and a few tornadoes. Heavy rainfall will also accompany the system,� the weather service noted.

For Washington, Philadelphia and New Jersey, the major impact from the storms was expected later Thursday. In the nation’s capital, the Office of Personnel Management said federal agencies are open but that workers would be allowed to work from home or take unscheduled leave.

The storm also delayed first-round play at the U.S. Open at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

In New Jersey, emergency officials monitored the storm. Most of the state was under flood watch and the weather service predicted up to 2 inches of rain will fall on already-swollen waterways.

Last year, a derecho event caused at least $1 billion in damage from Chicago to Washington, killed 13 people and left some 4 million people without power, according to the weather service. This year’s event fell far short of that, but winds toppled trees and power lines leaving many without electricity through the night.

Ohio reported property damage and electricity outages caused a confusing morning commute as many traffic lights were out in parts of the state. Thunderstorms and high winds hit northern Illinois and the rural areas south of Chicago. Hail and some tornadoes were reported.

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