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A rapidly strengthening storm system will produce soaking, flooding rain across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast today and tonight.

A storm system developing off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia will ride up the Eastern Seaboard today before making a turn into the Northeast tonight.

Rain will overspread the mid-Atlantic this morning and spread northward into New England and interior sections of the Northeast throughout the day and into tonight.

Places like Washington D.C., Baltimore, Md., New York and Boston will be drenched with a much-needed soaking rainfall. Many areas in the Northeast have been abnormally dry through the start of this year.

According to Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, "Portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont could receive several inches of rain."

East and northeasterly winds off the Atlantic Ocean will provide abundant moisture for which the storm can tap into.

With heavy rain comes the threat for flooding. Low-lying and poor drainage areas have the greatest risk of quickly rising and fast-moving waters.

As the storm strengthens, winds will become strong and gusty, especially along coastal sections. Winds can gust up to 50 mph at times tonight.

Wind-driven rain can make for difficult driving conditions. Slow down and use caution on the roadways if you will be driving later this afternoon and tonight.

Another aspect of the storm will be a heavy, wet, tree-snapping snowfall. Colder air will wrap into the western side of the storm, setting the stage for snow accumulations up to a foot in the higher elevations of western Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

In the storms wake, a period of brisk and chilly conditions will continue through early this coming week.

Temperatures will begin to moderate back to seasonable levels by the middle of the week.