Rain to whisk away sunshine from northeastern US

By Kyle Elliott, AccuWeather meteorologist

April 18,2017, 11:30:48AM,EDT

 

 Following sunshine and gorgeous weather for outdoor activities on Monday and Tuesday, cloudy and rainy weather will return to the Northeast later this week.

By Wednesday, a chilly flow of air off the Atlantic Ocean can spoil the beautiful weather recently enjoyed in the Northeast and bring back the return of damp, dreary conditions.
At the same time, a weak storm system tracking across southeastern Canada will spread showers back into New England and interior portions of the mid-Atlantic.

“The first storm will bring nothing more than showers to parts of Pennsylvania, New York state and New England from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.
Just as quickly as this first system departs, another is set to follow on its heels and keep the string of unsettled days going in the Northeast through Friday.
“The second and more potent storm will bring widespread showers and a few thunderstorms, some of which could be heavy and gusty across West Virginia, Ohio and western portions of New York and Pennsylvania, from Thursday afternoon into Friday,” according to Rathbun.

Drenching downpours may also accompany the strongest storms and cause brief but rapid reductions in visibility for motorists traveling on Interstate 80 between Cleveland and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Thursday afternoon and evening.
Thunder may be heard as far north as Buffalo, New York, on Thursday, while a more general soaking rain impacts northern New England, including the cities of Boston and Portland, Maine, overnight.
Other cities that may be targeted by strong thunderstorms on Thursday include Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania; and Charleston, West Virginia.
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Residents of the Northeast should make sure to grab the umbrellas and rain gear, in place of the sunscreen, before heading outdoors on Thursday.
As the storms move eastward toward the I-95 corridor into Friday morning, they should lose much of their intensity and just bring a few spotty showers to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Rathbun added.
Although temperatures in northern New England will remain stuck below average through Friday, unseasonable warmth will quickly return to the mid-Atlantic on Thursday and Friday and allow residents to take advantage of hiking, biking, fishing and other outdoor activities in between the storms.
Sunshine and cooler air is set to make a comeback in the mid-Atlantic by the start of the weekend.