Rain to Clear Out of the Eastern Third of U.S. to Start the Week

Posted: October 16, 2023 8:43 am

Monday will bring slow improvement to the Midwest and the Northeast after last week’s massive storm system finally moves out to sea. Here is a look at what you can expect in the eastern half of the U.S. heading into the new work week.

Central U.S. Cleaning Up After Rash of Rare Fall Severe Weather

It was a messy week for much of this part of the country as a far-reaching storm dumped rain and snow as it marched from west to east. The weather maker was responsible for dropping up to 10 inches of rain across portions of Nebraska and South Dakota to end the week.

Severe weather was the story for much of the Plains and the Mississippi Valley on Thursday and Friday. The clash of the cool air from the front merging with the warm air triggered the formation of widespread thunderstorms that brought a variety of impacts to the region.

For instance, at least five tornadoes were suspected to hit the south-central part of Nebraska on Thursday. While there were no confirmed tornado touchdowns on Friday, there were multiple observations of funnel clouds spinning over Iowa.

The moisture was good news for the north-central U.S., a part of the nation that has been grappling with moderate to extreme levels of drought over the last several weeks. A deficit of rain has posed problems for the streams and rivers of the area. The Mississippi River has experienced a reduced load of barge movement due to the low water levels hindering transport.

The higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains also saw the first measurable snowfall of the season out of this storm system.

What is Next for the Region?

Just because the bulk of the moisture is moving out to sea, it does not mean that the temperatures will rise. Instead, a dip in the jet stream will bring temperature readings more reminiscent of November. You can expect the chilly readings to spread from the Midwest and into the Northeast throughout the day Monday. Some stray rain showers will also linger.

Major cities such as Chicago and Detroit are forecast to see daytime highs on Monday that top out in the 50s. As a point of reference, the historical average for the middle of October is about 10 degrees warmer. You will find slightly warmer temperatures moving to the coastal Northeast with highs near 60 degrees in New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

The presence of clouds and stiff breezes will mitigate the odds of a frost during the overnight hours. However, this breeze will also bring the real feel temperatures down a few notches.

The chilly weather will also hang on through Tuesday into the Southeast and Florida. The southern Appalachians are also expected to see the first flakes fly across the higher elevations.

High Pressure System Will Bring in Warmer Temperatures by Mid-Week

An area of high pressure is set to build across the East by the middle of the week, delivering warmer temperatures and drier conditions. The nicer weather pattern will first hit the Ohio and Tennessee valleys by Wednesday before expanding eastward.

Later in the week, forecasters are warning that a competing area of low pressure may plunge down from central Canada. Should this come to fruition, more wet weather and cooler conditions could impact parts of New England and the mid-Atlantic. Forecasters are still uncertain about how strong this area of low pressure will be if it arrives in the U.S.

Another Story Weekend on Tap for the East Coast?

The Northeast has seen a string of bad luck for weekend weather. It has rained every weekend throughout the region since the Labor Day holiday. This past weekend’s rain event marked six consecutive weekends with measurable rain for places such as New York City. In fact, the Big Apple has recorded 16.40 inches of rain since September 8. This amount is almost three times over the norm.

Looking ahead to next weekend, meteorologists are closely monitoring what was once Super Typhoon Bolaven. Now a tropical wind and rainstorm, this feature is forecast to move into southern Alaska to start the week. This movement will create a buckle in the jet stream, allowing more stormy conditions to filter into the eastern third of the U.S. just in time for the weekend.

Forecasters will continue to monitor what is left of Bolaven to determine how it may impact the weather across the U.S. this week.

It is also possible that the movement in the jet stream could lay the groundwork for a coastal storm to develop next weekend. Be sure to stay tuned to the forecast in the coming days to see how your weekend plans will shape up as a result of the weather.

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