Storms Forecast to Continue to Roar Across the Eastern U.S.

While the south-central U.S. may finally get a reprieve from the onslaught of storms by the end of the week, the threat of severe weather will simply migrate to the Atlantic Seaboard. Here is a closer look at what parts of the country should be prepared for thunderstorm activity to close out the month of May.

Mid-Atlantic Center of Storm Activity to Close Out the Week

Stormy conditions will be the story for the end of the month across the eastern half of the country. The storms will kick off as drier air tracks across the country from the west and the north, creating a boundary that supports the development of unsettled weather.

The southern U.S. has been under the gun in recent days for this active weather pattern. Hail the size of baseballs has been a common occurrence with some of the strongest storm cells this week. The Gulf Coast has been the bullseye of the activity.

Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be volatile days across a large swath of the eastern U.S. Forecasters are warning that hail the size of baseballs will once again threaten the region. Winds could be powerful enough to bring down trees and power lines, cutting off power and causing widespread property damage.

The central mid-Atlantic will be the focal point of the action on Friday. Charlotte will wake up to dry conditions on Friday, however, the reprieve is not expected to last for long. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will distinguish the afternoon hours. Winds will be whipping around from the west-southwest at 10 to 20 mph while temperatures will top out at about the 80-degree mark.

You will find a similar forecast to the north in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Research Triangle is expecting afternoon thunderstorms and highs that reach the low 80s before falling into the upper 50s overnight.

Moving over to the coast, places such as Virginia Beach, Virginia, are forecast to start the day with rain showers. While the rain is likely to clear out in the afternoon, storms are in the forecast for the evening hours for this beach community. The forecast is calling for a high of about 77 degrees and lows that settle at about 60 degrees.

Saturday's Storms Move Farther East

Saturday's storms will push farther to the east, impacting the Carolinas along portions of interstates 85 and 95. Heavy rain could trigger flash flooding concerns, particularly along small streams and in urban areas. Motorists are being warned to be careful when crossing secondary roads if they appear to be flooded. Airline travel could also be impacted by these storms.

Isolated tornadoes are also a possibility with this weather maker. Some of the tornadic activity could spin up after dark, making them more difficult to spot. Those in the potential impact zone should enable all smartphone notifications before going to sleep.

Saturday's line of storms could creep up as far north as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia. While most of the Northeast will dodge the severe weather, a drenching rainfall is in the cards for a large part of New England on Saturday. The rain showers will also expand farther to the west in the mid-Atlantic on Saturday.

Looking at a few specific forecasts, Washington, D.C. is predicted to see a rocky start to the day Saturday, with scattered thunderstorms a possibility. Rain showers will persist into the afternoon hours in the nation's capital. The clouds will keep the mercury suppressed at about the 70-degree mark with lows plunging to the 50-degree barrier after the sun goes down. It will also be a breezy day with winds out of the west-northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

The risk of storms will take longer to arrive to the north in Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love is forecast to see dry weather early with storms erupting in the afternoon. Temperatures will hover in the low 70s for highs, pairing with lows of about 52 degrees. Winds will clock in at 10 to 15 mph from the west-northwest.

As noted earlier, New England is expecting garden variety rain showers on Saturday. Manchester, New Hampshire, is bracing for about a half of an inch of rain with most of the moisture expected to wrap by the latter part of the day. It will be a cool day with highs in the upper 60s and winds reaching speeds of 10 to 15 mph. Another shot of moisture could trigger more rain showers overnight as lows dip to 50 degrees.

Breezy conditions will be the story for the coastal area of New England. Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is expecting winds of 15 to 25 mph from the south-southwest. Like the rest of the region, rain showers could dampen outdoor plans in the morning. The arrival of some sunbreaks in the afternoon will bring the mercury into the mid 60s for a high. More rain is in on the horizon for the evening and overnight hours along with lows that hover in the mid 50s.

What About the Southern U.S.?

A mass of drier air is forecast to settle over the south-central portions of the country on Saturday. This dry air will migrate into the Southeast by Sunday, bringing the mercury up in the process.

For example, after dodging storms on Friday, Atlanta will enjoy drier weather for the weekend. The Peach City will see the temperatures increase from the 70s on Friday to highs in the low 80s over the weekend. The start of the work week will see daily highs reach the mid to upper 80s in Atlanta.

Although the start of the meteorological summer on June 1 will come with rising temperatures over much of the eastern half of the country, the long-range forecast is calling for more rounds of rain showers and thunderstorms. For instance, the cycle of thunderstorms is forecast to reignite next week across the southern Plains before tracking to the east.

Cities most likely to be back in the crosshairs for storms by Tuesday and Wednesday include Dallas, Austin, Little Rock, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Memphis. Check back early next week for more details about how this situation is developing.

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