(New York, New York) – A developing storm system is set to deliver a wet stretch of weather across the Northeast, with rounds of heavy rain expected from Wednesday night into Friday.
The storm will move in from the Midwest and track toward the Northeast while a cold front slides east across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. As the setup comes together, parts of the region could see downpours heavy enough to trigger localized flooding.
Rain is expected to expand along the I-95 corridor Wednesday evening before spreading into New England on Thursday. Many communities could receive a solid soaking, with higher totals likely across northern New England.
Some areas in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and upstate New York could see several inches of rain by the time the system moves out. That may help ease dry conditions in spots that badly need rainfall, but it also raises the risk of flash flooding where storms repeatedly pass over the same locations.
Farther south, thunderstorms could become strong Wednesday afternoon and evening from the Mid-Atlantic into the Carolinas. The biggest concerns will be damaging wind gusts and hail, though a brief tornado cannot be completely ruled out.
Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Raleigh are among the cities that could see stronger storms as the front pushes through.
By Thursday, the storm is expected to strengthen near the New England coast while pulling in extra moisture from the south. That will keep rain and downpours in place across much of the Northeast through the end of the workweek.
Drivers should be prepared for ponding on roads, poor visibility, and slower travel during the heaviest rain. Small streams, low-lying roads, and areas with poor drainage could also see quick rises in water.
The rain will be welcome in parts of northern New England dealing with drought, but forecasters say any heavy burst of rainfall could still cause problems in vulnerable areas.
