Weekend Shaping Up to be a Wet Affair for Much of the Northeast

Those with outdoor plans in the Northeast this weekend may want to rethink their strategy. Forecasters are warning that the dry air that has been keeping the moisture machine turned off to close out the week will be a thing of the past by the weekend. Here is a look at what to expect in the coming days in the northeastern U.S.

Weather Change on the Horizon for the Northeast as Rain Bears Down

A mass of moisture-rich air is making its way to the Northeast, raising the risk of heavy rain and storms just in time for the Father's Day weekend. The change will feel particularly dramatic after the toasty weather on Thursday. Highs hovered in the 80s and low 90s throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic on this day. The intense sunshine pushed real feel readings well into the 90s for many areas.

The buildup of clouds on Friday will raise the risk of rain showers. The Friday forecast is calling for an uptick in rain and thunderstorms across southern and western New York and down into the mid-Atlantic and the central Appalachians. Although the day will not be a total washout, it is possible that some communities could experience times of heavy rain.

Another storm system coming out of the south-central U.S. this weekend will bring up moisture from the Gulf. This system will also be able to tap into the moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and send it to the northwest.

Repeated downpours and the threat of flash flooding are possible across portions of the Ohio Valley, the southern Appalachians, and into the mid-Atlantic by Saturday. For instance, it could be a dicey day of weather for Washington, D.C. People planning on attending the 250th anniversary parade and festivities for the U.S. Army should be ready for rain and stormy conditions.

The storms will move to the northeast throughout the weekend, putting outdoor plans on Father's Day in question. Beach goers will also be dodging storms throughout the weekend. Those in New England and eastern portions of upstate New York could get a break in the weather on Sunday if a pocket of dry air makes it down from Canada.

Heading into next week, warmer weather is on the horizon for the northeastern corner of the country. Forecasters are even warning that a heat wave could develop if an area of high pressure takes hold over the region.

Specific Northeast City Forecasts

Now let's examine a few forecasts for major urban areas in the Northeast. New York City will start Friday on a dry note despite the building cloud cover. The clouds will bring down the temperatures, expected to top out in the upper 70s. Periodic rain showers will pop up after midnight in the Big Apple, setting the stage for a soggy Saturday.

Saturday's forecast in New York City is calling for intermittent rain showers. Highs will struggle to climb out of the upper 60s while overnight lows will slide into the upper 50s. While there will be a slight chance of a rain shower on Sunday, this day will mark the start of a drier weather pattern.

It will be stormier to the south in Washington, D.C. The nation's capital will see the thunderstorm chances increase on Friday afternoon and evening. Rainfall of up to an inch is possible on Friday as highs remain in the upper 80s. Cloudy skies on Saturday morning will give way to the threat of severe storms during the afternoon and evening hours. Temperatures will cool a bit, maxing out in the low 80s for a high.

Washington, D.C. will cool down more on Sunday with a forecast high of about 71 degrees. The greatest chance of rain on Sunday will be in the afternoon, evening, and overnight hours. You can expect rainfall amounts of about a quarter of an inch after the sun goes down. The chance of rain will linger through Monday in Washington, D.C. with highs remaining unseasonably cool at 73 degrees.

Rain will be less of an issue to the north. Boston is forecast to see cloudy skies with just a slight chance of rain on Friday. The threat of rain will increase overnight and into early Saturday. Despite the lack of rain, it will be chilly in Boston on Saturday with a forecast high of just 61 degrees and lows that slide into the low 50s overnight. Winds out of the east-northeast at 10 to 15 mph will amplify the chill in the air.

Father's Day should be free of rain in Boston, however, the clouds and temperatures in the mid 60s will remain. Breezy conditions will also necessitate that you take a jacket if headed outside.

Moving into the interior portions of the Northeast, Pittsburgh is forecast to see the moisture machine gear up late Friday, delivering about a quarter of an inch of rain during the overnight hours. Another half of an inch of rain is on tap on Saturday. The Steel City will see highs in the low to mid 80s on Friday slide into the mid 70s to kick off the weekend.

Sunday's forecast in Pittsburgh is calling for more of the same with scattered thunderstorms threatening to thwart that Father's Day barbecue with the family. The mercury will inch back up into the upper 70s for a high, pairing with lows in the mid 60s. The unsettled weather pattern will persist through next week in this part of the interior Northeast.

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