Drought-Ridden Northeast Will Receive Welcomed Rain This Weekend

Tom Moore
Published: September 16,2016
Rain is in the forecast for the drought-ridden Northeast this weekend, and this is actually good news.
It hasn't just been a hot summer across the region – it has also been dry. In fact, some sections of the Northeast are experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions.
(MORE: La Niña is likely to Be a No-Show This Fall and Winter)

Rain Timing and Impacts

A slow-moving cold front will interact with moisture riding up from the southwest to produce rain across the Northeast.

This weekend, a slow-moving cold front will interact with moisture coming up from the southwest to dramatically increase the chances for rain across the Northeast.
By Saturday morning, pockets of rain will likely extend from western New York southward to West Virginia. The rain will move very slowly eastward into central New York, central Pennsylvania and western Maryland by late in the day.
Look for more widespread rain across the region on Sunday with frequent showers from New England back to New York and Pennsylvania and down to Maryland.
Rain chances will extend into Monday from New England to the mid-Atlantic Coast.
Although there could be some embedded thunderstorms during this event, the overall severe threat is low, and flooding is very unlikely due to relatively light rainfall amounts and current drought conditions across the region.

Drought Relief?

Much of the Northeast is experiencing drought conditions, and some areas are in a severe to extreme drought.
(U.S. Drought Monitor (Northeast))

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the Northeast is experiencing drought conditions. In fact, over 37 percent of the region is reporting at least a moderate drought.
Nearly 40 million people are currently in the overall drought area.
(MORE: Late Summer Heat Will Continue Next Week Across The East)
Parts of New England, western New York and northern Pennsylvania are also in severe to extreme drought.
Although the upcoming rain will be welcomed, rainfall totals will not be high enough to put anything more than a small dent in the drought. Most locations should see barely an inch of rain (with locally heavier amounts), if that.

Setup For Northeast Rain

Northeast Rainfall Forecast Through Monday

As a ridge of high pressure aloft (bulge in the jet stream) moves eastward into the Atlantic, it will be replaced by a trough of low pressure (dip in the jet stream) this weekend.
The trough is fairly weak, so severe thunderstorms look to be isolated at best.
Moisture will be pulled up from the southwest and there will be enough energy to lift that moisture, resulting in the formation of clouds and rain.

Jet Stream Forecast for the Northeast This Weekend

MORE: Northeast Rainbows