STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Severe thunderstorms will ride over the northern rim of heat expanding into the Midwest and the Northeast.

A storm system shifting eastward across the northern Plains will produce a trigger for the storms, while the hot, muggy air will act as the fuel.

Communities from northern Minnesota to western New York and western Pennsylvania are going to lie in the path of the dangerous storms.

Duluth, Minn., Marquette and Alpena, Mich., and Erie and Pittsburgh, Pa., are among the cities and towns at risk for getting hit by violent thunderstorms today.

The threat for western New York, western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio will mainly be through the first part of the day. A complex of strong storms over southern Ontario, Canada, early Tuesday morning will follow steering flow into these areas.

Damaging wind gusts over 60 mph and large hail will be concerns of the severe storms both in the Northeast and Midwest. The winds will be capable of knocking down trees and power lines, potentially causing damage to homes and vehicles and cutting power to some areas. The largest hail, up to the size of golf balls, could dent cars and break windows.

A few of the strongest thunderstorms could spawn tornadoes.

Northern Minnesota into extreme northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will have the greatest threat for twisters, mainly later in the day. The higher tornado threat will be due to the fact that there will be weaker southerly winds at the surface and strong west-southwest winds high in the atmosphere. This will set the stage for a strong rotation in the storms.

Overnight, the threat for nasty storms will be finished for southern Ontario, Canada, and the Northeast. Farther west, severe storms could continue well into the night across eastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and northern Michigan.

Gulf Coast Severe Threat

Hot and muggy weather and daytime heating will allow another round of severe afternoon storms near the Gulf Coast.

Houston, Texas, New Orleans, La., and Mobile, Ala., may get rattled by damaging storms. Strong wind gusts and large hail will be the primary threats of these storms.

By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist

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