No Measurable Rain in Sight for Central and Eastern U.S.

While the Southeast and the West will see plenty of moisture this week, it will be a different situation in the central and northeastern portions of the country. An expansive area of high pressure will grip these regions into the middle of October, exacerbating the drought and raising the risk of wildfires. Here is a closer look at this forecast.

Central and Eastern Left High and Dry by Moisture Machine

The growing area of high pressure stretching across the central and eastern U.S. will keep this part of the country largely dry in the days ahead. Forecasters are warning that the stretch of days with no moisture could persist into mid-October. While the lengthy period of dry days will be advantageous to those wanting to get outside for outdoor projects, football, and fall festivities, the lack of moisture will worsen the ongoing drought and lower water levels on critical waterways. The risk of wildfires will also persist as the vegetation grows increasingly dry.

Other than a shot of precipitation last week for these regions, it was a particularly dry August and most of September. According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, a large swath of the Midwest, the mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast is under the designation of abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions. Although the recent rainfall helped to put a lid on wildfire concerns, that relief will prove to be short-lived as the drought is forecast to expand and worsen.

Last week's rain brought water levels up slightly along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Both of these large waterways are important conduits for transport. The upcoming expectation of little to no rain could bring water levels back down to dangerously low measurements, once again impacting barge and transport operations.

Several streams and ponds in the central and eastern U.S. are drying up as the water levels dip. This change in groundwater levels can negatively impact well water systems. Local officials may need to impose drought restrictions in the weeks ahead should these trends not reverse.

Roller Coaster of Temperatures

The drying landscape will usher in a roller coaster of temperatures throughout the day and overnight hours. Residents of the central and eastern U.S. should expect chilly mornings. Some of the northern reaches of the region will be under the threat of frost or freeze conditions by the middle of this week.

The ample sunshine will help to push up daytime highs, resulting in warm afternoons. Humidity levels are also predicted to remain on the lower end throughout the week. Do not let the warm afternoon readings fool you. The mercury will drop quickly once the evening rolls around.

The threat of wildfires will increase as the dry weather pattern grows longer. The combination of the toasty afternoon temperatures, the low humidity levels, and the dry leaves and brush will create the perfect storm of conditions for brush fires to ignite and spread. The elevated chance of wildfires will stretch across much of the eastern U.S.

The Southeast is likely to be the only part of the eastern U.S. that will see enough rain to mitigate this risk. The train of moisture coming up from the Caribbean, the Gulf, and the Atlantic is forecast to stick around for much of this week. Another surge of moisture is in the long-range forecast for next week.
 
Looking at a few specific forecasts, Burlington, Vermont, is one area that will experience a wide gulf of temperatures throughout the day and night. After reaching a high of about 70 degrees on Tuesday, the temperatures will slide into the low to mid 40s overnight. Wednesday's overnight low is likely to drop even further, landing at about 38 degrees. The clear skies will pave the way for the cool nights in this part of New England.

Wednesday night is also anticipated to be the coldest night of the week for places such as Albany, New York. The forecast is calling for the temperatures to slip below the 40-degree barrier after reaching the mid 60s during the peak afternoon heating hours.

It is shaping up to be a beautiful week for tourists exploring New York City. The Big Apple will cool to highs around the 70-degree mark on Wednesday and Thursday after reaching the low 70s on Tuesday.  Overnight lows will hover in the mid to upper 50s during this time period.

Conditions will be warmer in the central portions of the country. For example, Cincinnati is forecast to see highs in the mid 80s. Overnight readings will bottom out in the low to mid 50s over the course of the week.

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