A Powerful July Storm Is Set to Dump a Foot of Rain on the Northeast

Some of the largest metro areas along the East Coast are bracing for up to a foot of rain as a powerful July storm takes aim at the region with heavy rainfall. Read on for the details of when and where the rain is expected to unleash.

Major East Coast Cities Bracing for Flooding Rainfall on Wednesday

An unusually strong July storm system is forecast to bring flooding rain to major cities such as New York City, Hartford, and Boston. Forecasters are telling residents to prepare for the threat of widespread travel disruptions and flash flooding. The weather maker is predicted to reach its peak on Wednesday in the Northeast.

The heavy rain fired up in a zone from the Carolinas and up into New England on Tuesday. The mid-Atlantic was ground zero for the worst of the storms on Tuesday night. While the Northeast and New England will dodge the bulk of the severe weather impacts experienced in the mid-Atlantic, flooding rainfall will be a key concern to the north of the core of the storm.

Widespread heavy rain is anticipated for most of New England through Wednesday. In addition to the torrential rainfall, winds of up to 30 mph will be a concern for the coastal parts of the region.

The rain is expected to persist through the day Thursday before dissipating in the overnight hours and into Friday. The forecast is calling for general rainfall totals of about 1 to 2 inches from Washington D.C. to the north into the southern edge of Maine. The Hudson Valley, western Massachusetts, and western Connecticut are bracing for the most potent rain bands. This swath of land is expecting at least 4 to 8 inches of rain out of this one system. Up to a foot of rain could fall in the heaviest hit areas.

Rainfall of this magnitude is capable of triggering flooding on roadways and rapid rises along small streams and drainage canals. Subway flooding could present issues if the heavy rain bands train over New York City. Motorists using interstates 95 and 87 will want to be aware of the likelihood of reduced visibility and flooding on the roadways.

While the greatest impacts will be felt on Wednesday, light rain showers could cause disruptions to outdoor activities on Thursday for parts of the Northeast.