Cooler and Wetter Weather Moving Toward the Northeast by End of Week

Posted: October 4, 2023 9:45 am

The surge of heat that has enveloped the Northeast in recent days is not going to hang around for long. The return of cooler weather and the possibility of storms will be back in the forecast by the end of the week, making it important that you get out and enjoy the weather while you still can.

Heat to Stick Around a Few More Days in Northeast

The pleasant weather to start the week was particularly welcome after the end of last week concluded with rainfall of up to 8 inches in many areas from the mid-Atlantic and up through southern New England. This rain event unleashed several instances of flash flooding that some residents are still cleaning up after.

You can count on the dry and warm conditions to last through at least Wednesday. Temperature readings will hover between 5 and 15 degrees above what is normal for the first week of October. In fact, some areas may even see new records form as the mercury soars. Cities that may see records fall on Tuesday include Albany, the capital of New York state.

New York City will see temperatures inch toward the 80-degree mark on Tuesday and Wednesday, translating to about 10 degrees above the historical average. Boston will see daily highs in the 70s through Thursday with the chance of cracking 80 degrees on Wednesday. It will be even warmer to the south in Washington, D.C. with the temperature expected to land in the mid 80s through Wednesday before the cooldown arrives.

Weather Hazards to Look Out For

Those hoping to head to the beach one last time will find calmer conditions when compared to the last few weeks when a string of tropical weather features churned up the seas. However, local officials warn that beachgoers may encounter minor beach erosion as a result of these storms.

One other potential weather hazard this week will be the chance of thick fog across the valleys of the interior portions of the Northeast. This dense fog is likely to bring visibility down to less than a quarter of a mile in the hardest hit areas, creating problems for motorists as well as triggering flight delays.

When Will the Heat Break?

The large area of high pressure that has been responsible for this warmth will begin to break down and move offshore late Wednesday and into Thursday. This breakdown will also usher in winds from the southeast, bringing in additional chances of moisture from the Atlantic.

Thursday’s temperature readings will remain moderate with highs that land in the 70s up and down the Interstate 95 corridor. The unseasonable warmth of highs in the 80s will linger through Thursday in areas to the west of the Appalachians, including Pittsburgh and Morgantown, West Virginia.

Friday is when the real cooldown will begin. An increase in clouds as a storm system moves in from the Midwest will set up the cooldown and the increase in moisture. The weather pattern will set up another wet weekend for many areas of the East Coast, especially if the storm is able to pull in moisture from the Atlantic.

Residents of the mid-Atlantic and up through New England will want to keep an eye on this forecast if their weekend plans call for time outdoors. Although the upcoming rain event is not going to bring the same degree of impact as last week’s flooding, it may still be enough moisture to create travel delays on Friday night and through Saturday.

This is a good reminder to remove debris from your home gutters and storm drains to reduce the odds of flooding. Even if this storm does not materialize into a significant concern, this is the time of the year when you can expect stormy conditions.

Much cooler temperatures will come in behind the storm, bringing the mercury down by about 20 to 30 degrees when compared to the early week heat. For instance, areas west of the Appalachians will see highs that top out in the 50s beginning on Saturday. It will take until Sunday for the temperatures to dip to this level in areas east of this mountain range.

Forecasters are also warning that the Great Lakes may be a breeding ground for waterspouts this weekend. This weather event is more common when chilly air moves over waters that are still warm.

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