Flooding downpours will bring a significant flash flood threat to the Northeast region of the U.S. This could lead to potentially life-threatening conditions as well as severe travel disruptions.

New England

Meteorologists from AccuWeather have highlighted a significant flash flood risk stretching from New England to the mid-Atlantic region. The concern arises from slow-moving thunderstorms fueled by high atmospheric moisture and instability, which are expected to produce intense rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour. 

Major cities such as Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City are at heightened risk, with urban flooding possible in subways and streets. Rural and higher terrain areas could also experience creek, stream, and even mud or rock slides. The rainfall event is notable for its intensity and wide coverage, despite not being associated with a tropical system, and residents in low-lying areas are advised to move to higher ground if warnings are issued.

Flash flood risk extending from New England to mid-Atlantic

Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and in the southeastern New England. All right, joining me right now is AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter. You know, Jon, this came on our radar late last week, and then over the weekend, we got more and more confident, and then we made the call about this flood risk on Monday. That's right, Bernie. AccuWeather experts have been having this in our forecast, talking about the risk for flash flooding in the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast since Monday, days ahead of all other known sources, so that people can be best prepared and stay safer. We're concerned about this setup because of the reasons you talked about. There's sunshine outside already in Baltimore, building instability, fuel for these thunderstorms, and they're going to be slow-moving, Bernie, which means persistent downpours at a significant flash flood risk in major cities. As you know, one of my favorite tools is the water vapor loop here, Jon, and there's a reason for that, because what we'll first start, here's the front. You can see where it is from northern New England back toward the Midwest. So there it is at the surface, but the reason it moves is the steering flow in the middle and upper part of the atmosphere. What's the steering flow? Unfortunately, the steering flow isn't perpendicular to the front, Jon. It's parallel. That is, it's moving west-southwest to northeast, and that means that front's not in a hurry to push south. No, and this is actually a very concerning setup that we see when we look at the water vapor loop here, because look at all these greens and darker blues here. This is indicative of higher levels of atmospheric moisture, and notice it's going from southwest to northeast, parallel with that front, so there's nothing to give it a push and keep it moving. That's why we're concerned about that moisture training over the same areas with these slow-moving storms, and that's a recipe for trouble. And dry air. Look at that dry air. New York City, Harrisburg, Washington, D.C. So right now, that means the sun is out, and as you mentioned, that makes the atmosphere even more unstable. But we have another ingredient, another ingredient. Of course, we have the dew point temperatures well in the 60s and 70s here, Jon, but this is a lot of energy in our upper air map to come in across this part of the country this time of the year. It sure is, and what we're talking about here is spin in the atmosphere with these oranges and red colors, and out ahead of those areas of spin, that's where the air wants to be lifted, producing clouds and rain, heavy rain in this case, and this is a lot of jet stream energy for this time of the year. This is a more typical setup, more of like spring or fall, so to get this with such high levels of atmospheric moisture, that's the worrying setup here. Yeah, there's the dew point temperatures, 70 degrees in New York City, 76 in Harrisburg, 77 in Washington, D.C., Jon. All right, let's take a look at the future radar here. This is the latest. This is what's concerning by the time we get into early afternoon. Right, it's not going to take too long. Look at this, 2.30 on the eastern time on the future radar here. Look at these reds and yellows already developing across southeastern Pennsylvania, parts of New Jersey. These are heavy thunderstorms that are going to be producing rain rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour, and more important than the amount of rainfall, the total amount of rainfall, is how fast that rain is falling. That's too fast, too furious, and that's going to result in significant flash flooding concerns. This is the kind of setup that can, in a major metro area like New York City, as soon as that rain rate gets above an inch and a half per hour, that's when you get flooding in the subways and streets, also creek and stream flooding in the more rural areas, and there can even be, in the higher terrain of northeastern Pennsylvania or the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, some rock slides or mud slides in hard-hit areas. You know, Jon, we were talking with our flooding expert, Alex Zanowski, and he made a point. This is an unusual amount of rain over a larger area for this time of the year that does not associate with a tropical system. It is unusual. 2 to 4 inches of rain over a wide area from parts of New England through the mid-Atlantic states with an AccuWeather local storm max of 8, and so such unusual amounts of rainfall lead to a higher risk of flash flooding. Move to higher ground if you get flash flood warnings for your community, especially if you live along creek, stream, waterway, or other low-lying area. And the flash flood threat's a little dangerous for New York City, Jon, because we feel pretty certain that we're going to easily get 1 to 2-inch rain amounts here per hour in some of these storms. Exactly, and that's all it's going to take to produce significant flash flooding. All right. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. Jon, thanks for breaking it down here on AccuWeather Early.

The announcement comes as international pressure mounts on Israel over the war in Gaza and the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

Ljubljana

Middle East Conflict

Slovenia become first EU country to ban arms trade with Israel

The United States imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials just as other nations are stressing the importance of the PA in governing Gaza in the event of an end to the devastating war in the enclave.

New York

U.S. sanctions Palestinian Authority in growing diplomatic rift

Ukraine’s Parliament has reversed a controversial law signed last week by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which would have allowed the government greater control over anti-corruption agencies. The decision comes as the country faces one of its most significant political crises since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine parliament reverses bill on anti-corruption agencies amid crisis

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods that don't meet the terms of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement to 35 per cent.

Ottawa

Global Tariffs

Trump raises Canada tariff to 35%, grants extension to Mexico

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 31 in a bid to salvage Gaza truce talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where a global hunger monitor has warned that famine is unfolding.

Jerusalem

Trump's envoy meets Netanyahu for Gaza aid, ceasefire push

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is visiting Israel as more countries join the call to recognize a Palestinian state in September. CBS News' Robert Berger has the latest.

Trump envoy in Israel as Canada joins call on Palestinian statehood

President Donald Trump says the U.S. will charge a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea as part of a deal that eases, for now, tension with a top-10 trading partner and key Asian ally.

Washington

Trump says U.S. will set 15% tariff on South Korean imports

U.S. President Donald Trump slapped a 50% tariff on most Brazilian goods to fight what he has called a "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from heavier levies.

Rio de Janeiro

Trump hits Brazil with tariffs, sanctions but key sectors excluded

Widespread damage from tsunami waves after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded appears to have been largely avoided. Experts say this event should be used to gauge disaster preparedness for a more serious situation in the future.

Okinawa

Tsunami damage less severe than feared after Russian earthquake

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will recognize a Palestinian state later this year if the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, meets certain conditions.

Canada to recognize Palestinian state in September if conditions met

Australia said on Wednesday (July 30) it will add YouTube to sites covered by its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the Alphabet-owned video-sharing site and potentially setting up a legal challenge.

Canberra

Australia expands teen social media ban to YouTube

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 30) the United States will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, as well as an unspecified penalty for buying Russian weapons and oil, on Aug. 1.

Trump says U.S. to hit India with 25% tariff starting August 1

Mourners flooded the streets of Birmingham to celebrate the life of rock-and-roll legend Ozzy Osbourne during his funeral procession in the United Kingdom. Mark Savage, a music reporter at the BBC, a CBS News partner, joins with more details.

Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne fans flood Birmingham streets to mourn late music icon

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters before departing from Scotland that Jeffrey Epstein poached workers from his Mar-a-Lago spa. Trump mentioned Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most vocal accusers, in his latest remarks.

Trump says Epstein 'stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago spa

Owdeh Hathaleen, a 31-year‑old Palestinian activist, teacher, and filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was shot dead by an Israeli settler near the village of Umm al‑Khair in the South Hebron Hills.

Palestinian activist killed by Israeli settler in West Bank

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves of up to 16 feet nearby, and sparked evacuation orders in Japan, Hawaii and across the Pacific on Wednesday (July 30).

Hawaii

Tsunami reaches Hawaii after huge quake shakes Russia's Far East

The U.N. General Assembly brought high-level officials together to promote a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israel and the United States are boycotting the two-day meeting, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia

Israel and U.S. boycott UN Summit for two-state solution

With numerous countries facing an Aug. 1 trade agreement deadline, officials in the Trump administration say China could get an extension while negotiations continue.

Trump officials suggest potential tariff truce with China

Police say the man who shot and killed four people in a New York City office building before he took his own life had a "documented mental health history." Mayor Eric Adams says he may have been targeting the National Football League (NFL).

Manhattan gunman had 'documented mental health history'

Jeffrey Epstein-associate Ghislaine Maxwell is offering to testify before Congress in exchange for concessions like full immunity. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Ghislaine Maxwell offers to testify before Congress

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday (July 29) Britain was prepared to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel takes a number of steps to improve life for Palestinians.

London

UK to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel takes action

Russia launched overnight air strikes on over 70 Ukrainian cities, killing more than 20 people, according to President Zelenskyy. A pregnant woman died near a hospital in the southeast, while a prison strike killed at least 17.

Deadly Russian air raids hit Ukraine as Trump warns of sanctions

For the first time, human rights groups inside Israel are accusing their own government of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel insists it is targeting Hamas, not civilians—despite nearly 60,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began almost two years ago.

Rights groups in Israel accuse country of genocide

As Gaza’s crisis worsens, France is advocating for a two-state solution at a UN conference co-chaired by the French foreign minister. The meeting follows President Macron’s announcement that France will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September.

France leads UN talks on Israel-Palestine two-state solution

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was found guilty of bribery and witness tampering in an unprecedented trial that has shaken the country.

Bogotá

Ex-Colombian president Uribe convicted of witness tampering, bribery

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev posted on social media that President Trump's deadline push for a ceasefire with Ukraine is "a threat and a step towards war."

Moscow

Russian official calls Trump's ceasefire deadline 'a threat'

Ukraine says Russia's overnight air strikes hit a prison in Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, killing at least 17 people. Another 35 were injured. Authorities say the attacks destroyed the jail buildings and damaged several nearby houses.

Zaporizhzhia

Russian air strikes hit a prison in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, 17 killed

Russia launched yet another attack on Ukraine overnight, with more than 300 drones and seven missiles. While most of the barrage was intercepted, the attacks prompted President Trump to give his Russian counterpart an ultimatum.

Trump gives Putin new deadline to end Ukraine war

A gunman killed at least one police officer and shot a handful of other people Monday in the heart of New York City. CBS News New York has the latest details.

Gunman kills police officer, wounds others in Midtown Manhattan

The suspect in the Michigan Walmart stabbing attack that injured 11 people over the weekend pleaded not guilty Monday to terrorism and assault charges.

Breakdown