Heavy Rain, Wind Slamming the Mid-Atlantic
An intense storm across the Northeast will create an ugly situation this weekend as melting snow and heavy rain swells rivers past their breaking points.
Widespread flooding will occur in rivers and streams from southern New England to Virginia. In some coastal areas, as much as 3-5 inches of rain could fall.
The heaviest rain will fall across the mid-Atlantic today and shift into New England on Sunday.
Adding to the threat will be warmer temperatures which have melted a large snowpack over the region this week. Portions of the Poconos and Catskills still have nearly a foot of snowcover.
Coastal areas could be hit even harder as larger-than-normal tides will combine with high seas to batter beachfront areas. Tides are higher this time of the year because of the approach of the new moon on Monday which will produce tide levels of 3 to 6 feet above average.
Low-lying roads and those close to rivers and creeks may become impassable as the waterways shed their banks.
Flooding is forecast for most major rivers across the region. The worst flooding could occur near the Monocacy River near Frederick, Md., and the Potomac River near Paw Paw, Md., and Point of Rocks, Md. Major flooding is also forecast on the Allegheny River near Sharpsburg, Pa.
High Winds
Wind gusts of 30-50 mph will batter areas from D.C. to Boston throughout the weekend.
These winds will trigger significant beach erosion and dangerous waves which will batter beachfront areas.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 82° | Gila Bend, AZ |
| Low | -13° | Clayton Lake, ME |
| Precip | 1.24" | Spanish Fork, UT |
WeatherWhys®
The "Dead of Winter," the one-month period when normal temperatures reach their lowest levels, has come to an end for much of the United States. Some people may find it odd that the "Dead of Winter" does not encompass the darkest day of the year (the first day of winter). That is due to a seasonal lag in temperatures. More heat continues to be lost than is gained from the start of winter until this time of year.
This Day In Weather History
Gulf Coast 1 (899)
ry cold morning along Gulf Coast; New Orleans 6.8 deg.; Mobile -1 deg.; Pensacola 7 deg.; Tallahassee -2 deg (All time record for Florida. Brownsville 12 deg. (all time low).
North Dakota 1 (936)
this date the mercury plummeted to -60 deg. at Parshall, ND - the coldest temperature ever for the State of ND. Later the same year, the mercury soared to 121 deg. at Steele, ND - the hottest temperature ever for the state of ND.
Rough Weather
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