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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued Wednesday afternoon across parts of the Northeast, Intermountain West and Northern Rockies, putting hundreds of thousands of residents at risk from damaging winds, large hail and dangerous lightning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
In central New York, the NWS offices in Binghamton and Buffalo warned that storms capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail up to quarter-size were moving rapidly through Cayuga, Onondaga, Oswego and Cortland counties. The storms were tracking east to northeast around 40 mph, threatening cities and towns including Syracuse, Oswego, Fulton, Auburn and Baldwinsville. Forecasters warned that damage to roofs, siding, trees and vehicles was possible.
Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued across Utah, Idaho and Montana, with some storms producing even stronger winds. The NWS reported gusts of 70 mph in parts of southeastern Idaho, northern Utah, and southwestern Montana, where officials warned of “considerable” damage to trees, mobile homes, and outbuildings.
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In West Virginia, a separate warning covered portions of Doddridge, Lewis, Upshur and Harrison counties, with radar-indicated storms producing 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail.
Residents of affected areas in all five states were urged to move indoors, avoid windows, and seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor as storms moved through.
People are told to find shelter immediately during a severe thunderstorm because these storms can produce life‑threatening hazards with little warning, and being indoors dramatically reduces the risk of injury or death. A severe thunderstorm warning means dangerous weather is already happening or imminent, not just possible, which is why urgency is emphasized.
- Lightning is one of the most immediate and unpredictable dangers. Moving indoors offers the best protection from lightning strikes.
- Damaging winds are another major threat during severe thunderstorms: Strong gusts can topple trees and power lines.
- Large hail also poses a serious risk, and can break bones and cause significant property damage.
- In some cases, severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes, sometimes with little or no advance warning.
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In most cases, the severe thunderstorm warnings are short-lived, often lasting less than an hour. But AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate the threat of storms developing will persist through the end of the week, depending on the area.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch vs. Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Widespread severe thunderstorm watches were issued by NWS offices on Wednesday evening, spanning four states: Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop in and near the watch area, but storms may not have formed yet, serving as a heads‑up to stay alert and be prepared. Watches are typically issued hours in advance by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and cover large areas, often including multiple counties or states.
A severe thunderstorm warning, by contrast, means a severe storm is occurring or imminent, based on radar or confirmed reports, and poses an immediate threat from hazards such as damaging winds of at least 58 mph or hail one inch in diameter or larger. Warnings are issued by local NWS offices for smaller, more targeted areas and call for immediate action, including moving indoors and staying away from windows.
Severe Thunderstorm Risk Maps as More Storms Expected
Some storm risk will persist in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, from Charleston, West Virginia, northeast through Syracuse, New York, AccuWeather meteorologists said in a forecast. Damaging winds accompanying these storms could gust as high as 60 mph.
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A stronger threat will persist through Wednesday night in the Intermountain West, with Montana facing a moderate threat over Bozeman, Helena and Great Falls. Some threats will stretch from Central Utah north to the U.S.-Canada border.
Fierce winds of up to 80 mph are expected with these storms. The winds come after much of Montana and surrounding states faced high wind warnings on Wednesday during the day, an unusual occurrence for May, NWS meteorologist Ian Gesell told Newsweek. The winds were so strong that trucks were at risk of tipping over while driving.
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By Thursday, the threat will move to the Southwest and Plains states, stretching from the Texas panhandle northeast through Kansas, AccuWeather forecasts said.
On Friday, threats also persist from Oklahoma northeast through Western Illinois. The Southern Plains will see a continued threat of storms into Saturday, and on Sunday, the threat becomes more widespread, stretching from northern Texas up through northwestern Illinois and into Wisconsin.
As of 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, there are no tornado warnings in place.
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