Warmer Temperatures Settling in Over the Northeast to Close Out the Week

The Northeast is looking forward to the warmest temperatures of the season thus far with the warmth arriving just in time for the Easter holiday weekend. Although this part of the nation will enjoy mostly pleasant weather for the weekend, it will be a different situation in the central U.S. where storms will continue to be a nuisance. Here is a look at what you should expect this weekend.

Mercury Trending Upward in the Northeast

Temperatures will reach the 70s and 80s for highs across the Northeast in the days ahead. Although the temperatures will not approach record territory, they will still land at about 15 to 20 degrees above the historical average for a large part of the region.

The unseasonable warmth will come as the jet stream lifts to the north, taking the cooler air with it. Saturday is shaping up to be the toastiest day of the spring season so far for the bulk of the Interstate 95 corridor from the mid-Atlantic and up into New England. The result will be a pleasant day for Easter activities such as egg hunts and family picnics.

The upcoming weather pattern will feel reminiscent of the early-season surge in the mercury across the mid-Atlantic. During this period in late March, the temperatures reached the 70s and mid 80s across some parts of the region. The weekend temperatures are likely to eclipse these levels in some places.

The pleasant temperatures will come with a price for allergy sufferers. Pollen levels are expected to be high over much of the Northeast as the rising temperatures support the accelerated budding of the trees. Experts recommend keeping windows and doors closed when the winds pick up speed. It is also a good idea for those who are sensitive to pollen to avoid outdoor activities in the early morning hours when the counts are the highest.

Diving Into a Few Metro Area Forecasts

Looking at a few specific forecasts, Boston is expecting its warmest day of the year on Saturday with a forecast high of 77 degrees. This compares to a top reading of 69 degrees recorded in the middle of March and again in early April in Bean Town.

Some parts of the Interstate 95 route in southeastern New England could come close to cracking the 80-degree mark on Saturday. For example, Hartford, Connecticut, is anticipating a high of about 81 degrees on the first day of the weekend. What is most impressive is that this reading will be in reach despite the cloudy skies and winds out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph.

It will be even warmer in areas to the south. New York City is forecast to see a high of about 82 degrees with the sunshine making an appearance in the afternoon hours. The Saturday forecast in the Big Apple is also calling for winds out of the southwest at 10 to 15 mph and an overnight low that slips into the mid 60s.

It will feel more like the summer than the spring in Washington, D.C. Saturday's forecast is calling for a high of about 87 degrees despite the arrival of more clouds. It will be breezy in the nation's capital with winds out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph.

Chances of Rain?

Most of the region will remain dry for the holiday weekend. However, a front that is expected to stall over the eastern Great Lakes and into the St. Lawrence Valley could translate to the chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorm activity. Despite the cloud cover and the risk of moisture, there will be some sun breaks and periods of dry weather to facilitate outdoor activities at times.

The front is predicted to move to the southeast on Sunday and Monday, bringing a higher chance of moisture along with more cloud cover to the region. Those in the northern and western edges of the Northeast will see a dramatic change in the temperatures beginning Sunday afternoon. You can expect the mercury to top out in the upper 40s and the mid 50s at this time.

The influx of cooler air will also make it into the eastern portions of New England by the end of the weekend, sending the temperatures back into the 60s for high readings. Going back to Boston, the high on Sunday will struggle to climb out of the low 60s, a difference of about 15 degrees from the day prior.

The cooldown will also hit New York City by Easter. After seeing readings reach the low 80s on Saturday, Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs will remain in the upper 60s for a high on Easter Sunday. Another 10-degree drop in the high temperatures is in store for Monday with a forecast high of just 58 degrees in New York City.

Washington, D.C. will also see cooler weather on the holiday with an expected high of about 74 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. Highs will trend a bit downward by a few degrees on Monday along with the chance of afternoon and evening rain showers across the nation's capital.

What is Next?

Looking ahead to next week, a new storm is forecast to move through the Great Lakes and into the interior portions of the Northeast. The chance of severe weather will be back on the table for the Tennessee and Ohio valleys.

AccuWeather forecasters say that the rest of the week will feature mainly dry and mild weather across the mid-Atlantic and New England states, with precipitation chances increasing again by the end of the week.

The mass of warm air is most likely to persist the longest across the mid-Atlantic and up into New England. This part of the region will enjoy the early summer-like weather through the holiday on Sunday before the cooldown begins to take shape on Monday.

Where to Expect Storms This Weekend

As the eastern U.S. enjoys mostly pleasant conditions for the holiday weekend, it will be a different situation for the nation's heartland. Storms are forecast to roam this part of the country throughout the weekend, disrupting outdoor plans for millions of Americans.

The activity kicked off late Thursday in Nebraska as a duo of supercell thunderstorms roared across the eastern part of the state and into western Iowa. At least three tornadoes were born out of this system. A top wind gust of 82 mph was reported in Dodge County, Nebraska. Hail measuring the size of baseballs was reported in the town of Fremont.

One twister was confirmed at about 7 pm local time in the northern edge of the Omaha area near the line that separates Douglas and Washington counties. The communities of Bennington and Fort Calhoun reported damage from this tornado.

Another twister was later reported near Crescent, Iowa, on the other side of the Missouri River. Residents also reported hail the size of softballs in an area to the east of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A second supercell persisted for over six hours as it moved from an area near Grand Island, Nebraska, to the east into Clarke County, Iowa. The storm first fired up in the late afternoon hours and did not dissipate until after 11 pm. This storm is likely responsible for a tornado that hit to the east-northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The most destructive tornado hit portions of Fremont and Page Counties, located in the southwestern corner of Iowa. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a rare tornado emergency as the twister came to life. The town of Essex was hit the hardest by the high winds generated by this event.

The active weather pattern setting up over the central U.S. this week is the result of a southward plunge in the jet stream across the western part of the nation. The continued southward movement of the jet stream into the Plains states will work to bring up the warm and moist air from the Gulf and support the storm development.

This jet stream configuration is common this time of the year, producing the bulk of the severe weather events for the southern and central U.S. While the jet stream had lifted over the last week, its reappearance to the south will continue to raise the threat of stormy conditions for the next several days.

The height of the activity for the Easter weekend will be focused on a zone from the southern Plains and up into the Ohio Valley on Saturday. By Sunday, the risk will spread from eastern Texas and over into the lower and middle portions of the Mississippi Valley.

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