Stormy Conditions with Rain, Ice, and Fog Headed to the East Coast

The eastern U.S. is going to see a rocky end to the calendar year with an incoming rainstorm forecast to deliver heavy rain, fog, and icy conditions at times. Here is a look at this potentially messy forecast in the days ahead.

Storm System Targeting the East Coast

The south-central U.S. was the focal point of a rash of severe weather on the day after Christmas. A second weather maker is predicted to move into the Midwest, the Appalachians, and over to the Eastern Seaboard beginning this weekend and lingering into the early part of next week. While most people will escape with just rain and fog, colder temperatures in some areas will result in the threat of ice. The greatest risk of icy conditions will be at the front end of the system when the temperatures are still hovering around the freezing level.

The next wave of severe weather will also originate in the southern U.S., picking up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The rain will first fire up again over the south-central portions of the country on Saturday before pushing into the lower Mississippi Valley and up into the Tennessee and Ohio valleys. The line of precipitation will eventually track into the southern and central portions of the Appalachians and up into the Great Lakes later Saturday and into Sunday.

You can expect rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches across the bulk of this area with locally higher amounts of 2 to 4 inches a possibility. A large portion of the rain will follow over a period of just a few hours, sending water levels rising over their banks across some rivers and streams. The rapid runoff of the water could also result in flooding concerns. The higher terrains will be at risk of mudslides and debris flows.

The line of precipitation will move from the Appalachians and over to the middle and southern Atlantic coastline and New England by the middle of the day Sunday and into early Monday. The busy Interstate 95 corridor is likely to see the heaviest rain fall on Sunday afternoon and evening. For instance, New York City is forecast to see a steady rain develop Sunday afternoon with about an inch of accumulation on tap for the overnight hours.

You will find a similar situation in Philadelphia with a steady rain coming together on Sunday and lasting through the overnight hours. Light rain showers will greet morning commuters on Monday in the City of Brotherly Love.

The rain will stretch to the north into areas such as Boston. However, this metro area will likely escape with about a quarter of an inch or rain on Monday, less than its counterparts to the south. The biggest story for Boston will be the blustery winds accompanying this system, clocking in at speeds of 15 to 25 mph on Monday.

Motorists heading home at the end of the holiday weekend will want to be prepared for the chance of poor visibility and urban flooding. Air travel may also be impacted when the heaviest bands of rain roll through.

Concerns for Ice

While much of the East Coast will see a warming trend heading into the new year, there will be enough cold air when the storm arrives to raise the threat of patchy ice. The highest risk of ice development will be across the interior portions of the Northeast.

Freezing drizzle could present problems in an area from western Maryland and up through the western, central, and northern portions of Pennsylvania. It will also be cold enough in the southern edge of New York to potentially see icy conditions on Friday.

More ice is in store for the region late Friday and early Saturday. Other areas that should monitor the formation of icy conditions heading into Saturday include the northwestern corner of New Jersey, interior Connecticut, western and central Massachusetts, upstate eastern New York, and the southern and central parts of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Another shot of ice is in store late Saturday and early Sunday for the northeastern fringe of New York and up into the far reaches of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

The milder air on the back end of the storm will translate to melting snow on some of the mountain tops of the northern Appalachians. This weather forecast could disappoint skiers and snowboarders as some of the powder may turn slushy with the arrival of the ice and the rain.

The risk of ice will also present issues for motorists heading home after the holiday. Remember that it does not take much ice accumulation to turn roads and sidewalks into skating rinks.

The mercury will increase by the end of the weekend. After seeing highs in the upper 40s on Saturday, New York City will come close to cracking the 60-degree mark on Sunday and Monday. It will be even warmer in Philadelphia with a forecast high of 64 degrees on Sunday.

Dangers of Fog

The moisture will pair with the infusion of milder temperatures to create wintertime fog. The long nights are known to support fog this time of the year. The development of fog is also more likely when storms move over existing snow cover with moisture.

Forecasters are warning that two different types of fog will be possible with the weather setup this week. Low-level fog hovering the ground will present issues for motorists. Meanwhile, the low clouds that form over the mountainous areas can also create fog.

This same storm system that is expected to trigger travel delays in the Northeast will also be responsible for severe weather concerns in the southeastern U.S. These storms are likely going to be powerful enough to generate gusty thunderstorms across a swath of land from the central Gulf Coast and up into the Tennessee Valley on Saturday. By Sunday, the severe storm threat will target the Atlantic Seaboard.

There is also the outside chance that isolated tornadoes may spin up within the strongest storm cells. Flash flooding will be another hazard to monitor in areas that get hit with the heaviest rain.

Another storm will follow behind the weekend system, bringing the chance of measurable snowfall to some areas of the interior Northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday. This will be a storm to keep a close eye on if you live in this area and have New Year's Eve plans.

This New Year's holiday storm is predicted to bring another shot of rain to the Interstate 95 corridor while snow will be the story farther inland. But one small shift in the storm track could send the flakes flying closer to the coast.

Lastly, the possibility of a third storm later next week could bring a more significant chance of snow to the major cities along the East Coast. While the models can still change considerably this far out, it is looking as if this third storm will take aim late next week and into the first weekend of the new year. Check back later next week to learn more about how this system is developing.

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