Major storm to hit northeastern US with high winds, flooding and snow late this week

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

April 4,2017, 2:44:37PM,EDT

 

 

Travel and outdoor plans will take a hit in the northeastern United States as a major storm with heavy rain, strong winds and snow takes aim during the second half of this week.
"The storm has the potential to be the strongest in a series to hit the Northeast since late March and through the first week of April," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
Motorists and airline passengers should anticipate delays. Major League Baseball (MLB) games could be delayed or postponed as a result of the storm.

The storm could have damaging consequences in terms of severe thunderstorms, powerful wind gusts and flooding from heavy rain and above-normal tides.
The storm will first quickly spread drenching rain and severe weather across the Southeast states from late Tuesday through Wednesday night.
However, as the storm approaches the Northeast states, it will reorganize near the coast and stall.
Storm to raise risk of urban, small stream and river flooding
The slow forward motion of the storm and a surge of warm air along the Atlantic coast will result in a prolonged rain event for some areas that can escalate runoff and lead to flooding.

Since streams and rivers will already be running high from prior storms and runoff, a general 1-3 inches of rain and locally higher amounts can pose a significant problem.
The greatest risk of stream and river flooding will be in upstate New York and New England into this weekend.
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However, isolated urban flooding can occur throughout the Northeast as the heaviest rain rotates through on Thursday.
Some MLB games that could be affected by rain on Thursday include the Pittsburgh Pirates versus Boston Red Sox in Boston, the Atlanta Braves versus New York Mets in New York City and the Miami Marlins versus Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C.
Severe weather may target mid-Atlantic on Thursday
The greatest risk for severe weather in the Northeast will be limited to Thursday and generally confined to the mid-Atlantic region.

This severe weather threat will likely follow an outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes in the Southeast and Ohio Valley on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the strongest storms will bring the potential for damaging wind gusts and hail from eastern North Carolina to eastern Virginia, central and eastern Maryland, Delaware and southern New Jersey.
However, should warm air surge farther to the north, the risk of severe thunderstorms may extend into parts of eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.
"The thunderstorms have the potential to bring widespread damaging winds in the coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic on Thursday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.
A couple of isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out with the severe weather threat on Thursday.
Rough surf to invade, scour coastal areas
The strong circulation around the storm will push ocean water toward the upper mid-Atlantic and New England coasts.

Minor to moderate coastal flooding at times of high tide can occur from Maryland to Maine. The worst conditions in terms of coastal flooding are likely along the upper mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts Thursday.
In addition to the rough surf and seas generated by the storm, beach erosion is likely.
Strong winds may cut power, to usher in more cold air
South to southeast winds on the front side of the storm can become strong enough to topple trees and cause power outages from eastern Maryland to Maine.
West to northwest winds in the wake of the storm may not be as strong as some events over the past couple of months. However, winds will be strong enough to bring another blast of cold air in across the Midwest and Eastern states to end the week.
The air will become cold enough to allow some snow to mix in over parts of Michigan and Indiana during Wednesday night.
Snow is likely to become heavy enough to cause an accumulation in parts of central and southern Ontario and is possible in parts of Michigan and the Ohio Valley on Thursday and Thursday night.
On Thursday, some MLB games that could be affected by snow or wintry conditions include the Philadelphia Phillies versus Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati and the Detroit Tigers versus Chicago White Sox in Chicago.
Additional weather-related delays or postponements are possible into this weekend. Even if the games are held, MLB fans going to the games should be prepared for football weather in some cases.
While rain departs coastal areas, snow showers are likely to pivot into the central and southern Appalachians by Friday and may continue into the first part of the weekend.
Temperatures will rebound as sunshine returns from southwest to northeast as the weekend progresses.