Downpours to drench Northeast this weekend, trigger travel troubles

Those with outdoor plans or travel in the northeastern United States may face problems as downpours and thunderstorms once again ramp up in the region.

Weather systems are teaming up for what may be a bad weekend for outdoor activities and travel in the northeastern United States, AccuWeather meteorologists say.

A dip in the jet stream, a storm and tropical moisture will combine to deliver rounds of showers and thunderstorms to much of the region beginning on Friday.

"This is the last in a series of storms that brought rounds of severe weather to the Midwest this week," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, "The storm's forward speed will slow down as it reaches the Northeast, and that will lead to some issues."

"People should expect some travel delays, especially at the major airports and flights that connect in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. Ground stops may be issued as storms erupt and approach the airports.

"There is the likelihood of slow-moving and repeating thunderstorms along the busy Interstate 95 corridor and other major highways in the region, which may lead to areas of flash flooding and even some road detours in low-lying exposed areas," Anderson added.

Some of the thunderstorms will intensify during the afternoon and evening, when downpours, locally gusty winds and lightning may be most common.

Locally severe thunderstorms are forecast along Interstates 20, 40, 64, 77, 85, and others on Friday afternoon and evening, in addition to I-95.

Hail may also occur in stronger storms. However, some of the downpours and storms will occur late at night and into the morning hours.

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Sudden storms could quickly churn up area bays, coastal waters and large inland lakes with the threat of lightning strikes for those caught outdoors. AccuWeather meteorologists urge those with outdoor plans to keep an eye out for changing weather conditions.

On Saturday afternoon and evening, the main threat of severe weather will focus on the I-95 zone from near New York City through central South Carolina. A portion of the I-85 corridor will also be at risk in Virginia and the Carolinas.

"Often during the summer, thunderstorms tend to wait until the end of the day or at night before reaching the beaches. With this setup, storms could occur anytime, especially Saturday into Sunday, which will keep many off the beach," Anderson said.

For some areas, the rainfall will be beneficial, especially across Virginia and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey where there is ongoing drought.

On Sunday, the focus of downpours will likely extend from the Carolinas to northern New England. Parts of this region, in particular the zone from northern New York state to northern New England, have been thoroughly drenched in recent weeks—to the point where major flash flooding of streams and rivers has occurred. This may happen again this weekend anywhere in the heavy rain zone.

Based on new information, it appears that whatever becomes of the tropical rainstorm in the Caribbean late this week, there is a significant chance it may get stuck in the Southeast states next week. This scenario would bring days of downpours to parts of the Southeast, especially in coastal areas, instead of a focus of rain in parts of the mid-Atlantic and New England. However, that is subject to the intensity and track of the tropical feature after it passes near Florida this weekend.

Depending on the movement of a tropical rainstorm in the Caribbean that could strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane and track up near the Atlantic coast next week, a corridor of heavy rain may continue over the mid-Atlantic and New England region.

This potential ongoing downpour zone would occur near the boundary of tropical air near the coast and slightly less humid air well inland.

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