Northeast Wet, Cloudy Streak to Finally End

Tom Moore
Published: May 7,2016
Parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions have been frozen in time with days upon days of rain and clouds since late April.
This type of persistent weather pattern can be mood altering for some. Many are asking what is going on with the weather lately and when will this relentless rain and cold come to an end.
How long has this streak gone on? Some in the Northeast have seen rain for 11 days in a row and haven't seen a day with relatively few clouds in the sky since mid-April.

The Northeast's "Gloom" Streak

	Days with at least a trace of rain	Last sunny day
Washington D.C.	11 straight*	April 17
Philadelphia	14 of the last 16*	April 20
New York City	7 of the last 9	April 28
Boston	6 straight	April 30

(Notes: All rain streak data is through Friday, May 6, unless noted by a *, which includes rain that fell Saturday morning. A "sunny day" is defined as one in which the day's average cloud cover is less than four-tenths of the sky, as reported by the National Weather Service.)

Temperatures have been chilly so far this month in Boston, with highs only in the upper 40s and low 50s. The average high for Boston this time of year is in the low 60s.
Residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have encountered similar conditions as their neighbors to the north this week.
Rain has occurred every day this month, becoming more persistent Friday, and gusty northeasterly winds made it feel colder.
High temperatures have only been in the 50s so far this month, except for Monday, when the high reached the 60s. The average high temperature for Philadelphia this time of year is in the low 70s.

Early May Pattern

The atmosphere has exhibited a "blocking" pattern over the past several days.
The jet stream took a nosedive into the eastern U.S. and an area of low pressure aloft developed over the Mid-Atlantic states. The low became stagnant and a counterclockwise wind flow around the low continues to send cool air and moisture from the Atlantic westward to interior sections of the Northeast.

Current Radar, Satellite, Conditions

This situation has allowed wet and cool weather conditions to linger. Daytime heating tends to make the moist air rise and showers readily form, especially during the afternoon hours. The persistent easterly wind flow has also resulted in some coastal flooding, from the Mid-Atlantic up through New England, especially at times of high tide.
Most of the time, weather systems and precipitation tend to move from west to east across the nation. Many observers in the Northeast  have noted that clouds and rain are actually moving in from the east and heading west over the past few days. Radar has tracked the movement of rain very well with the rain rotating around the north side of the low and progressing from east to west. There have even been "bands" of rain moving into New England at times.
(INTERACTIVE: Current Radar)

Any Relief Ahead?

The good news is that the stubborn low over the Mid-Atlantic region will weaken Saturday. At the same time, another weather system will swing eastward from the Great Lakes and finally boot the low out into the Atlantic by late Sunday.
(FORECAST: Mother's Day Weekend)
Our forecast is showing some rain Sunday from Upstate New York into New England, but farther south, conditions will gradually improve Sunday and the sun will finally return.
Sunday's high temperatures will remain a bit below seasonal averages but a significant improvement will be observed across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions by Monday, with the exception of just a few stubborn showers in parts of New England.
(FORECAST: Boston | New York | Philadelphia)

Sunday's Northeast Forecast

MORE: Northeast Rainbows (PHOTOS)