Damaging wind gusts threaten northeastern US to start the week

Strong winds are expected to whip across the Northeast to start the week, threatening hospital tents and power outages as residents across the region work from home.

The storm system that brought heavy spring snow to parts of the northern and central Plains, as well as violent storms across the Deep South on Easter Sunday will focus on the eastern U.S. to start the week.

On Monday, severe thunderstorms will threaten parts of the I-95 corridor with flooding downpours, strong wind gusts, hail and isolated tornadoes.

The storm system continued to strengthen as the center moves through the Northeast on Monday, increasing wind speeds across the region.

Winds started out of the south and southeast across the mid-Atlantic and into southern New England turned. Throughout the day, winds will turn out of the west and northwest as the system lifts into eastern Canada.

Early Monday afternoon, a wind gust of 61 mph was reported in Islip, New York.

Strong winds battering the Jersey Shore have caused the roof of the Elward House in Cape May to blow off and parts of the Wildwood boardwalk have been knocked over.

Widespread wind gusts of 45-55 mph were common from Wisconsin and Illinois to Northeast coast.

"The strongest wind gusts will be along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario as well as along the Atlantic coast," stated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson. "Higher elevations could also see some of the stronger gusts."

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In these locations, wind gusts could reach 55-65 mph through the afternoon.

"Winds will have the potential to exceed 60 or even 70 mph on Monday, even outside of thunderstorms," Thompson added.

The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph cannot be ruled out for any area across the Northeast.

Winds of this speed will pose a significant threat to any temporary structures that have been for the intake and treatment of coronavirus patients across the region.

Strong winds can also blow over trees and powerlines that can lead to power outages.

"Hundreds of thousands of people across the Northeast may face power outages from these storms. Those working from home should prepare to have a back-up plan in case their power goes out," warned AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary.

Strong winds will also push water farther inland along eastern portions of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which can lead to lakeshore flooding and erosion.

Outside of thunderstorms rumbling through the region, wind-driven rain is forecast across New England to start the week.

In the wake of this system, colder air is expected to arrive from the center of the country, lowering temperatures into the middle of the week.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.