Soggy Few Days in the Cards for the Northeast Thanks to Erin

The Southeast is not the only part of the country in the line of fire for Erin's rain. Forecasters are now warning that torrential rain could unfold across the Northeast as Hurricane Erin churns offshore in the Atlantic. Here is what this corner of the country should expect in the days ahead.

Torrential Rain from Erin Headed to the Northeast

The tropical moisture coming along for the ride with Hurricane Erin will partner with a stalled cool front to produce significant rain across the northeastern U.S. beginning on Wednesday. The rainfall amounts could be heavy enough to raise the risk of flash flooding for portions of the Appalachians and the Northeast.

The heaviest rain bands will form along a stalled weather front that is currently anchored over the Northeast. The arrival of Erin's impacts will simply amplify this moisture stream. There is the possibility that one pocket of dry air could separate the two rainmakers.

Several inches of precipitation are possible in a period of just a few hours. The hardest-hit areas could see rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Urban areas and land along the region's smaller streams will be the most at risk of experiencing flooding. Motorists will want to be prepared for travel disruptions as the heaviest bands of rain move through.

The greatest concentration of rain is expected in the zone from upstate New York, southern New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. While most of the torrential rain is forecast to be highly localized, the areas in the bullseye will want to be aware of the possibility of rapidly changing conditions.

The bullseye of the repeated downpours will be in central and eastern New York. Another zone of heavy rain is forecast for southern Jersey and Philadelphia and over into Long Island, Rhode Island, and the southern edge of Connecticut.

The forecast models are also indicating that a secondary band of heavy rain could form along the spine of the Allegheny Mountains from western New York and through western portions of Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.

The bulk of the tropical moisture associated with Erin will push to the north and into New England on Thursday. However, some of the moisture still lingering around the edges of Erin's impact zone will continue to threaten outdoor plans for the coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic and New England.

While the Northeast will see drier conditions on Thursday, the coastal areas will still be under the gun for dangerous rip currents and rough surf conditions. Beachgoers will want to check the conditions before heading out for the day.

Specific City Forecasts

Atlantic City, New Jersey, will wake up to rain showers on Wednesday, getting the day off to a dreary start. It will be a bit breezy with winds out of the east-southeast at 10 to 15 mph. The extensive cloud cover will also work to trim the heat with highs topping out in the upper 70s. Overnight lows will bottom out at the 70-degree mark in the popular beach resort.

Thursday's forecast is calling for more rain in Atlantic City. The winds will also pick up at this time, clocking in at speeds of 15 to 25 mph from the northeast. The mercury will struggle to climb out of the mid 70s before slipping to about 62 degrees overnight.

Wednesday's forecast is calling for about a quarter of an inch of rain in Long Island, New York. The moisture machine will intensify after the sun goes down, with an inch of rain on tap. The forecast in Long Island on Wednesday is also calling for winds out of the east at 10 to 20 mph, a high of about 72 degrees, and overnight readings that land at about 63 degrees.

The rain will take longer to move up the coast and impact places such as Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. This island should expect about an inch of rain overnight Wednesday and into Thursday. The rain will linger on Thursday morning, with winds hitting 20 to 30 mph from the east-northeast. Temperatures will remain on the cooler side, maxing out at 70 degrees on both Wednesday and Thursday.

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