The East Coast Is Getting Pummeled By Lightning And Thunderstorms

Severe storms are pummeling the New England region right now, with lightning, thunder, hail, and strong wing gusts.

So far, there have been no reports of tornado activity in hard hit areas in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey, but AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski says most of the danger lies down South.

"The greatest risk for tornadoes will be from the lower Ohio Valley to parts of Arkansas and northwest Mississippi," he said.

Pennsylvania and northern areas in Texas and Lousiana are all at risk of flash floods, hail and wind damage. There were reports of tornados in Arkansas, where a house was "completely destroyed and a tractor-trailer flipped over," Accuweather reports.

Residents are apparently trapped in their home due to wires down in Emlenton, Pa. and half-dollar-sized hail was reported near Kell, Ill. at around 6 p.m. EST.

Here's a map of the storm system as it makes its way Northeast.

NOAA

Twitter users are uploading photos of the rainy weather:

Here's an eerie shot of the storm approaching Manhattan.

Twitter.com/AudreyPuente