Stormy weekend in eastern US with flooding rain and even snow
A strengthening storm is spreading flooding rain and travel problems into the East this weekend. Wintry conditions will return to the Great Lakes.
Severe thunderstorms spawned tornadoes as they swept through Oklahoma and surrounding areas on Jan. 8.
The same storm responsible for tornadoes and flash flooding from Thursday to Friday in the central United States is marching across the Appalachians and Atlantic Seaboard this weekend.
There were multiple reports of tornadoes and some damage near Oklahoma City on Thursday. Tornadoes were reported in Louisiana and Mississippi early Friday as storms shifted east.
On Saturday, the risk of severe weather shifted into the Southeast with a rotating storm prompting a tornado warning just south and west of the Atlanta metro area around midday. Into Saturday evening, thunderstorms with flooding downpours and locally damaging wind gusts will be the primary hazard from the Florida Panhandle into North Carolina.
There will also be a more focused area of heavy rain with a risk of urban flash flooding from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and southern New England into Saturday evening. Those traveling through these cities may encounter flooded streets and highways in areas with poor drainage. Pedestrians may get soaked in the conditions, even with an umbrella.
Thunder and lightning are possible with some of the downpours, which could reach as far north as parts of New England.
In parts of northern New England and northeastern New York, cold air that moved in on Friday may be slow to leave with some ice and snow possible on Saturday night.
The strengthening storm will help draw colder air from the Midwest into the Northeast into Sunday.
As the air turns colder across the region, intermittent snow and lake-effect snow will return after a several-day break in many areas.
With recent episodes of rain, much of the salt and ice-melting chemicals may have been washed away and will need to be reapplied by road crews and private property snow-removal contractors.
Motorists and pedestrians are urged to exercise caution, as a sudden plunge in temperature could accompany the snow showers and heavier snow squalls. Roads may be wet one minute and then slushy or icy the next under such conditions.
The heaviest snowfall will occur early in the storm, from central Ontario to southern Quebec, as well as in some of the mountains of northern New England. However, as the lake-effect snow machine resumes, some of the areas to the southeast of the Great Lakes will start to rebuild their snow cover.
Looking ahead to next week, the Northeast may have two separate chances for snow from different storms.
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