Widespread severe weather alerts have been issued across portions of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast amid "torrential" rains and dangerous thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon.Why It MattersA slow-moving frontal boundary will bring multiple rounds of rain showers and thunderstorms with the risk of flash flooding across the upper mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians on Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its forecast.NWS offices across the regions have issued numerous weather alerts for flash flooding, severe thunderstorms and other ominous weather.What To KnowAs of Tuesday afternoon, severe storms were barreling across Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.RainfallDownpours are lashing the regions, as NWS meteorologist Kevin Witt told Newsweek that repeating downpours could bring up to 3 inches of rain to Washington, D.C., while the average rainfall for the entirety of July is 4.33 inches. Some severe weather alerts warned of up to 5 inches of rain in localized areas depending on where the storm cells set up.Animated weather footage from windy.com anticipates widespread amounts of 1 to 3 inches across the regions over the next three days. Most will fall within the next 24 hours.WindIn addition to heavy rain, several weather alerts warned of damaging wind gusts. Windy.com's maps also shows the gusts at around 26 knots, or nearly 30 mph. Some severe thunderstorm warnings predicted wind as strong as 60 mph.Weather RadarThe most severe storms are setting up across northern Virginia, Maryland, southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the windy.com footage.This region was most at risk for extensive rainfall, according to the NWS Weather Prediction Center's outlook on Tuesday morning.ThunderstormsNWS meteorologists urged people to take shelter during the storms. "For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building," the Baltimore office alerted in a severe thunderstorm warning."Stay inside a well built structure and keep away from windows," the NWS office in State College, Pennsylvania, said in its severe thunderstorm warning. "Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways."What People Are Saying NWS Baltimore, in its severe thunderstorm warning: "Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles."NWS, in its Tuesday forecast: "Scattered strong to severe storms, excessive rainfall, and flooding are expected across parts of the Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast today. Flood Watches are in effect."What Happens NextSevere storms are expected to exit the regions by Tuesday night. No harsh weather is predicted for Wednesday, according to a hazardous weather outlook from the NWS.