Rainy Weekend in Store for the Northeast and Beyond

Posted: April 28, 2023 12:08 pm

It is likely to be a rainout for the Northeast this weekend. As forecasters have been predicting, a pair of storms is set to drench the region and create raw conditions near the coast to close out the month of April and welcome May.

Duo of Storms Taking Aim at Northeast

It has been a dry start to the year for the Northeast, however, that is all about to change in the coming days. The rain will help to reduce the existing risk of wildfires, however, it may also trigger travel delays and power outages.

You can expect widespread rain amounts of 1 to 2 inches with the two rain systems combined. Both weather makers are predicted to move through the area quickly, helping to mitigate any flooding concerns.

The first storm is already bringing rain to parts of the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians. The rain will continue to move to the northeast throughout the day, also expanding across the mid-Atlantic.

It will be a soggy commute home for many people in this region, including the major metropolitan areas of New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Boston is forecast to dodge the rain until later in the day Saturday.

Coastal Flooding a Possibility Across Mid-Atlantic Coast

The mid-Atlantic coastal areas may see flooding in a zone stretching from North Carolina to New Jersey. Sustained winds will land at about 15 to 25 mph with gusts ranging between 30 and 50 mph by Friday night.

This will create rough surf conditions and minor coastal flooding during times of high tide. Inland locations in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay will also be at risk of seeing this coastal flooding. The strong winds will reach southern New England by Saturday.

The region can expect a short period of dry conditions between the two storms. Saturday afternoon and evening will be your best bet at getting outside in the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians.

The best day for weather in New England will likely be Sunday before the second storm moves into the area.

Second Storm Predictions

At this time, the current models indicate that the second storm will pack more of a punch in terms of both rain and wind. This system will pull up moisture from the South to deliver a heavy dose of precipitation in the Northeast by the end of the weekend and to start the new work week.

There is also the chance that the second storm could pull up the moisture from an atmospheric river across the Caribbean to deliver even more rain.

This moisture will hit the central portion of the Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic by Sunday. Head out to Central Park early in the day in New York City if you want dry conditions. The afternoon and evening hours will feature heavy rain and the potential of thunderstorms.

Wind gusts of up to 60 mph are possible along the coastal area from Delaware to Maine. The most likely time frame for these winds will be Sunday night and Monday morning.

The good news is that the coastal flooding is expected only over one or two cycles of high tide as a result of the quickly moving storm.

Hazards Associated With This Storm

As with most storms of this magnitude, travelers will want to be aware of potential travel delays both on the roads and in the air. Monday morning travel across some of the nation’s busiest airports could be impacted by these delays.

The disruptions may take until later in the day to clear up in New England, including the busy hub of Boston. The ripple effect of these disruptions could affect the nation’s entire flight system to some degree.

The strong winds could also break tree limbs, causing power outages.

Lastly, the latest weather maker will also bring down the mercury. Real feel readings could fall as low as the 30s when combined with the cold winds. This unseasonably cool air will remain in place even after the storm departs the region.

The cold air coming in on the backside of this weather maker may be chilly enough to support the development of snow showers mixed in with rain across parts of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin this weekend. The chance of snow will extend into the Great Lakes and upstate New York by the middle of the next week.

Areas that do not see snow may still be at risk of late-season frosts or freezes next week as skies clear and the mercury plummets in the overnight hours.

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