'Cut-Off' Low Is Producing Persistent Clouds, Rain Across the East; Finally Going to Move East on Sunday

Brian Donegan
Published: October 1,2016
A prolonged period of unsettled weather is underway, and it will extend into Sunday across a large swath of the East. By Sunday afternoon, the pattern will finally break down.
A "cut-off" low, or an area of low pressure that is cut off from the main jet stream, will be meandering over the Great Lakes and Northeast into Sunday.
By Sunday evening, the area of low pressure will be moving out of the Northeast and rain should come to an end.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has hoisted coastal flood advisories for parts of eastern Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey due to the stiff onshore wind.
Harbeson, Delaware has picked up over 12 inches of rain from this event.

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Current Radar, Watches and Warnings

This sluggish system will bring persistent clouds, occasional rain and gusty winds to these regions into Sunday.
However, it will not be raining at all times, and there will be long periods of dry time. Despite this, it would still be wise to take the umbrella and rain coat with you through the weekend.
A broad swath of 0.5 to 1 inches of rain is expected across the Northeast through Sunday. This rain, even though it is light in nature, is welcome to the area.
(MAPS: 7-Day National Rainfall Forecast)

Rainfall Forecast

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio are still suffering from moderate to severe drought conditions after the hot, dry summer of 2016. However, the areas that need rain the most are western New York and eastern Massachusetts where they are classified under extreme drought conditions, the second worst drought category.
The rainfall this weekend will be beneficial and put a dent in some of the rainfall deficits in parts of New York state, New England and the Ohio Valley.
(FORECAST: Cleveland | Pittsburgh | Philadelphia | Baltimore | Rochester, New York | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Hartford, Connecticut)

This weather pattern is a polar opposite of what the Northeast experienced just last week, when a large ridge of high pressure (bulge in the jet stream) dominated the region. For example, on the first day of fall last Thursday, Philadelphia recorded a high of 87 degrees. The next day, Sept. 23, Philadelphia reached 89 degrees, which was 14 degrees above average for the date.
(MORE: How Temperatures, Daylight 'Fall' From Late September to Late December)

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