Severe weather forecast predicting derecho in Midwest and Mid-Atlantic

Severe weather is forecasted for today and tomorrow in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Almost 66 million people are at risk of tornadoes, high winds, large hail, lightening, and heavy rain which could cause flooding, according to USA Today. The Storm Prediction Center has identified that humongous line of powerful thunderstorms will reach from Iowa to Maryland, and may result in a derecho, (gusting winds of 80 mph or higher that spread across at least 240 miles and cause severe damage).

The cities identified at the greatest risk are Milwaukee, Chicago, Louisville, Indianapolis, Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, according to meteorologist Alex Sosnowski of AccuWeather. The Weather Channel additionally predicts that by tomorrow, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. will see damaging winds, hail and possibly tornadoes.

According to The Associated Press, derechoes are much more rare than tornadoes and they have weaker winds, but they produce high levels of damage over a much larger area than a tornado could.

Last year, the infamous June 2012 derecho, caused around $1 billion in damage from 100 mph winds reaching across 700 miles, from Chicago to Washington, killing 13 people from the derecho, 34 people from the heat wave to follow, and leaving over 4 million without power.

The predicted derecho for today and tomorrow is not predicted to cause as much damage, but is still projected to have a severe weather impact. Bill Bunting, operations chief at the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma confirmed that the results of these storms will cause power outages, followed by oppressive heat, said. He added that the risk of severe weather in these cities is 15 to 45 times higher than a normal June day.

"It's a pretty high threat," Bunting said, "We don't want to scare people, but we want them to be aware," warning specifically about the lightning and large hail. It’s imperative to take the necessary precautions because there isn’t much time to act once the storm heightens. They move so fast that "by the time you see the dark sky and distant thunder you may have only minutes to get to safe shelter," said Bunting.

According to Jeff Masters, meteorology director at Weather Underground, Wednesday "might be the worst severe weather outbreak for this part of the country for the year.”