Atlantic Coastline Bracing for More Rain and Potential Storms

It is going to be an unsettled week of weather in the eastern U.S. thanks to a series of slow-moving fronts and the leftover moisture from what was once Tropical Storm Chantal. Here is a look at the soggy forecast for this corner of the country.

Chantal Impacting Eastern U.S. to Start the Week

The day started on a wet note in the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast as Chantal's remnants moved into the region with torrential rainfall. This moisture is slowly making its way offshore; however, forecasters are warning that new disturbances in the atmosphere will lay the groundwork for more rain showers and thunderstorms. While the unsettled weather pattern will work to bring down the temperatures, it will also increase the risk of flash flooding.

Chantal came to life as a tropical rainstorm last week, eventually becoming a tropical depression before intensifying into a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) had been warning for days that this part of the Atlantic basin was ripe for tropical weather development. Tropical Storm Chantal made landfall in South Carolina at 4 am Sunday, tracking inland across the Carolinas with gusty winds and heavy rain.

A dangerous flash flooding situation unfolded across portions of the Carolinas on Sunday as the storm dumped widespread rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches. While the tropical weather maker lost its wind intensity on Sunday and Monday, the moisture associated with its remnants will continue to impact the region in the hours ahead.

Because Chantal is moving close to the coastline, it will be able to feed on the warm ocean water to amplify its impacts. A large swath of land from eastern Virginia and up into the Delmarva Peninsula and southern New Jersey spent Monday on alert for flash flooding.

Rainfall amounts of up to 4 inches are possible from eastern Virginia and to the north to Long Island, New York, through Tuesday. The rain could fall in sheets at times, quickly taking over storm drains and triggering the rapid rise of water in small streams.

The combination of the moisture from Chantal and the natural heating of the afternoon will increase the threat of thunderstorms. Storms are most likely to ignite to the north and west of where the center of Chantal's circulation is spinning. An advancing frontal zone in the Midwest and the Great Lakes will provide a fertile area for the storms to come together. Some of the strongest storm cells could pack locally damaging winds or downburst winds.

Tuesday's Storms Will Focus on the Southern Atlantic Seaboard Up Into New England

Chantal's final demise on Tuesday will not be the end of the wet and stormy conditions. The forecast is calling for regular rain showers and locally severe thunderstorms to roam the zone from the southern Atlantic coastline and up through the southern Appalachians and New England.

The primary threat from the repeated rain showers and thunderstorms will be flash flooding. Areas that see the moisture machine fire up on consecutive days will be the most likely to be dealing with flooding concerns.

Portions of the mid-Atlantic and the Delmarva Peninsula will be in the crosshairs for severe weather on Tuesday. For example, Annapolis, Maryland, is predicted to see sunny skies early that give way to increasing afternoon clouds and thunderstorms. Some of the storm cells could pack gusty winds. Temperatures will hit the upper 80s before falling into the mid 70s after the sun goes down.

Some of the storms could reach the New York City area at times. Any storm activity will be sporadic in nature in the Big Apple.

The silver lining of this active forecast will be that the rain and clouds will serve to trim the heat. A good portion of the sun's energy will be diverted to dry out the wet ground. However, this drying out will also support the formation of more storms.

Thursday is setting up to be a stormy day for parts of the Northeast. For instance, Long Island, New York, should prepare for rain showers early, developing into widespread thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours. The stormy conditions will suppress the heat with the temperatures likely to top out in the low 80s on Thursday in this part of the region. Overnight readings will bottom out in the low 70s in places such as Long Island.

When and Where to Expect the Warmest Temperatures This Week

An area of high pressure circulating to the west could potentially put a lid on the thunderstorm activity. The flip side of this development would be that temperatures will once again be on the rise.

Areas that dodge the majority of the downpours should brace for temperatures that soar into the 90s. Heat of this magnitude is most likely for parts of Georgia and the interior Carolinas. The mid-Atlantic could also see a brief burst of heat on Tuesday before the arrival of a frontal boundary that ushers in more clouds and precipitation.

For instance, Washington, D.C. will see the temperatures climb into the mid 90s on Tuesday afternoon before storms move in during the afternoon hours. The threat of storms will persist through the evening hours in the nation's capital. You can expect an overnight low of about 72 degrees.

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