As the next cross-country storm approaches, yet another wet weekend awaits millions of Americans in the Northeast.
A storm is moving through the Upper Mississippi Valley and Midwest on Wednesday, as a clipper system dives south out of Canada.
The FOX Forecast Center said this system is currently causing showers from the Dakotas to the Great Lakes and will continue moving eastward on Thursday. The storm is expected to produce rain of varying intensity from the eastern Great Lakes down to the Southeast.
Low pressure developing near the coast will likely produce another relative focus for rain in the coastal Mid-Atlantic by Saturday, the FOX Forecast Center said. However, there is still uncertainty in the location of the heaviest rain amounts, which will depend on the track, intensity and speed of the low.
“The Northeast is not just a one-hit-wonder. It’s Friday because the weather system pushing in from the West, and then Saturday and Sunday because that area of low pressure that’s kind of consolidating and riding up from the South,” FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “So it’s a bummer.”
For New York City, it’s been a string of rainy weekends dousing outdoor activities. This upcoming storm will be the seventh consecutive weekend Central Park has recorded measurable rain. New York has received more rain since Aug. 1 than Seattle has for its entire year.
Forecast models do indicate that there will be at least some moist inflow from the Atlantic ahead of the system, which may enhance rain amounts.
“We got 1 to 2 inches of rain for northern New England (in the forecast),” Merwin said. “Last weekend, New England kind of got a break. This weekend, we’re looking at almost a washout if you live north of New York City.”
A minimal risk for flash flooding has been introduced from central and northern parts of eastern New York state through central and northern New England, representing the best overlap of heaviest rain potential.
HOW HEAVY IS IT REALLY GOING TO RAIN?
“I don’t think we’ll see severe weather, but the reason why thunderstorm icons are popping up for coastal Massachusetts on Saturday is because of how close that low is going to be in our coastal communities,” Merwin said.
The FOX Forecast Center said surface low intensification will also support the potential for a period of brisk to strong winds at least through Sunday. There may be some snowfall in the highest elevations, depending on the system’s evolution and track.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF A WHITE HALLOWEEN?
“The strongest winds are on the backside of that low pressure, which is right now moving through North Dakota,” Merwin said. “These are hurricane-force wind gusts. We have High Wind Warnings in effect for eastern portions of Montana and stretching across South Dakota.”
On the bright side, things clear up just in time for Monday as the current weather system moves away from the area. Next week will feature a more stable atmosphere over the East, leading to a drier and more comfortable weather pattern for the following days – great news for anyone who has outdoor activities or travel planned.