Strong Winds, Rain, and More on Deck for the Eastern U.S.

The storm that churned through the Northeast to close out the weekend and end the new week will serve as a harbinger of things to come by Wednesday. This gusty storm system is expected to be stronger and larger than its early week predecessor, ushering in a number of potential impacts. Read on for the details of what you should expect from this incoming weather maker.

Gusty Storm Forming in the Southeast and Moving to the Northeast

The Southeast will begin to feel the effects of this system beginning on Tuesday. Warm air already in place over the Gulf Coast and beyond will fuel the formation of thunderstorms across parts of southeastern Louisiana, the southeastern corner of Mississippi, central and southern portions of Alabama, and into southwestern Georgia. An influx of moisture will pair with high winds circulating in the upper levels of the atmosphere to produce gusty conditions at the surface.

Heavy rainfall is on tap for the southeastern U.S. late Tuesday. This degree of rainfall could trigger isolated flooding concerns across the northern Gulf Coast and up into Georgia and the southern tier of the Appalachians.

Forecasters are predicting that this storm will continue to strengthen as it moves to the north in conjunction with a cold front. Milder air located ahead of the front will mitigate the chance of wintry precipitation as the energy pushes into the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast late Tuesday and into Wednesday. The precipitation associated with the arrival of the storm will mostly fall as rain rather than snow. The exception will be the higher terrains and up into the northern reaches of New England.

The highest risk of localized flooding will be in the zone from Long Island, New York and into New England. However, the moisture is good news for the parts of the Northeast still dealing with drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall season.

Forecasters are predicting that some communities in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast could pick up at least an inch of rain out of this system. Some areas of the New York tri-state area may record up to 3 inches of rainfall.

The biggest issue at the beginning of this storm will be the flooding that could result as the heavy rain falls on the existing snow. The rain hitting the surface of the snow cover will work to accelerate the snowmelt already happening with the warmer temperatures.

The rush of water will trigger the threat of flooding in areas with a deep snowpack. This includes a good portion of the region located downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. This part of the Great Lakes was slammed with a major lake-effect snow event over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Interstate 95 Corridor in Store for Wet and Wild Wednesday

The system will continue to push up the Interstate 95 corridor on Wednesday, becoming stronger as it moves to the north. This will translate to a soggy day for the major cities lining this corridor all the way from Florida and into Maine. Both morning and evening commutes may experience significant disruptions at the hands of heavy rain and the threat of localized flooding.

For instance, Philadelphia is bracing for rainfall of about a half of an inch on Tuesday overnight. Wednesday's forecast is predicting another inch of rain to pad that total. Winds will be whipping around at speeds of 10 to 20 mph from the south-southwest in the City of Brotherly Love.

While the air will be warm at the start of the system, colder air is forecast to trail the end of the storm. This could mean that the interior portions of the Northeast may see rain changing to snow in the interior portions of the Northeast and the higher terrains. The good news is that any snowfall accumulation should be light and spotty in nature. The flip side is that the wet roads left behind by the rainfall could quickly turn icy as the temperatures drop.

The forecast is also calling for a rush of Arctic air to filter in behind the storm. While this influx of frigid air will not be as bitterly cold as last week's weather pattern, there is a likelihood that some parts of the Northeast and the northern mid-Atlantic may experience a rapid freeze-up of the standing water.

Going back to Philadelphia, the highs in the low 60s on Wednesday will quickly fall to about the freezing level overnight and into Thursday. Temperatures will max out in the upper 30s on Thursday with lows slipping to about 22 degrees after the sun goes down. This will feel like a dramatic change after the mild start to the week.

High Winds Could Also Present Issues

Gusty winds are also expected to fire up on Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. This will happen as the system undergoes a time of intensification, whipping up the winds circulating within it. For instance, Dover, Delaware is forecast to see winds hit speeds of 15 to 25 mph on Thursday with the potential of higher gusts.

The increase in wind speeds will partner with the heavy rain to create delays at area airports. Be sure to check your flight status if your plans call for air travel by the middle of the week.

The Great Lakes region should be prepared for another surge of lake-effect snow to develop. The worst of the snow is expected to hit late Wednesday and through Friday before clearing out in time for the weekend. At this time, the forecast is predicting that the region could see 6 or more inches of snow during this period. More information about the anticipated snowfall totals and areas in the impact zone will come into focus in the next few days.

This event is likely to be much shorter in duration when compared to the last lake-effect snow cycle, limiting the amount of white stuff that falls and accumulates. The locally heavy snow bands and high winds will increase the risk of blowing and drifting snow that causes havoc on the roads.

Looking ahead to the second full weekend of December, those in the Northeast can expect increasing temperatures once again. There is a chance that the mercury will be hovering at levels above the historical average for the middle of December by the beginning of next week.

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