Most Significant Rain in Weeks to Soak Midwest, East Tuesday to Wednesday

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

October 26,2015; 12:27AM,EDT

 

 

The most significant rain in a few weeks is headed to the Midwest and Eastern U.S. this week as tropical moisture streams northward.
A large part of the Midwest and East has not experienced soaking rain since the start of October. That will change during the final days of October as tropical moisture enters the picture.
The exception to the lack of rain is the Carolinas where historic flooding ensued early in the month and additional rain about a week later led to more issues.

Cooler Conditions Ahead

"Moisture from Patricia is going to pull northward, spreading rain from the Gulf Coast states to the Ohio Valley and eventually the Northeast this week," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Zapolski.
Cities in line for the rain Tuesday into Wednesday include St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, as well as Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Eventually, the rain will also spread to Boston and Portland, Maine.
For the Carolinas, cool will be used to describe the rain on Tuesday with chilly air locked in place and holding temperatures 10-15 degrees below normal highs.

"This will be the most significant rainfall that we've had in a while," stated AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek.
Rainfall amounts will generally average around an inch with some communities receiving 2 inches.
"If the rain is slower to move through the Ohio Valley, there will be localized rain totals of 3-4 inches," said Zapolski.
The upcoming soaking for the final days of October will likely cause disruptions to outdoor and sporting events. The rain could cause slower travel than other recent rain events.
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"Motorists will have to use extra caution as fallen leaves combined with wet roads will lead to slick conditions," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
A repeat of the flooding that unfolded in the South Central states is not expected. However, localized flash flooding low-lying and poor drainage areas in the Midwest and East cannot be ruled out. Leaves clogging storm drains could cause water to drain more slowly than normal.
Otherwise, the wet weather will be beneficial where rainfall shortages are mounting and conditions have been dry.

The United States Drought Monitor reported on Thursday that the percentage of the Midwest experiencing a moderate drought increased from nearly 3.5 percent to 11 percent over the past week.
Only 0.02 of an inch of rain was recorded in St. Louis from Oct. 1 to Oct. 24.
A quarter of the Northeast (from Maine to West Virginia and Maryland) is either abnormally dry or enduring a moderate drought.
After nearly 2 inches of rain fell during the first three days of October, Washington, D.C., has been limited to 0.43 of an inch for the rest of the month.
The rain will sweep out of the Midwest and East by later this week, replaced by fresh cool air. The chill will be ushered in by brisk winds across the Midwest and Northeast and could lead to snow showers returning to the upper Great Lakes and northern Appalachians.
Waterspouts may also get touched off around the Great Lakes as the colder air arrives.