Weekend cooldown to follow stormy conditions in parts of Northeast
By
Nicole LoBiondo, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Oct 22, 2020 2:47 PM EST
Summer and winter will continue to clash from the Midwest to the northeastern United States as a storm triggering snow and thunderstorms over the central part of the nation heads eastward into the weekend.
Thunderstorms often erupt due to warm, moist air and strong solar radiation during the summer months, but similar stormy weather conditions in the autumn generally need a bigger boost in the atmosphere to develop.
As a chilly air mass settles into the northern Great Lakes in the wake of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Thursday, a warm, moist air mass will take shape across portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley. The associated cold front with this increasingly potent storm will create enough fuel to produce thunderstorms and the risk of severe weather during the day on Friday.
Warm air in place will be forced to surge upward and over the top of the advancing cooler air associated with the front, which will lead to towering clouds and thunderstorms that could generate strong wind gusts in addition to sudden downpours.
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"On Friday, as this front meets the warmth in place across the eastern Great Lakes, severe thunderstorms may develop along the front. Residents from eastern Michigan through southern Ontario, northern Ohio, southern Ontario and western New York state will have to be on lookout for these nasty thunderstorms Friday afternoon and early evening," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.
Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat with these thunderstorms, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for wind gusts of 70 mph. However, forecasters say even an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Some of the strongest storms could also contain small hail.
AccuWeather meteorologists also warn that strong wind gusts across the region won't just be confined to thunderstorms.
"Thunderstorms aside, gusty winds will still develop by Friday afternoon across this region ahead of the cold front," Sojda said. "Widespread wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph should be expected across the eastern Ohio Valley and Great Lakes Friday, with a few gusts to 50 mph possible."
Winds this strong could cause isolated power outages and lead to minor property damage. Any stronger wind gusts from thunderstorms could lead to more widespread damage.
Residents will want to be sure to secure any outdoor furniture or decorations ahead of these potent storms.
As the front passes to the east, a blast of cold air will be ushered into the Great Lakes region. High temperatures in Detroit will soar into the mid-70s Fahrenheit on Friday, then struggle to reach 50 degrees the next day on Saturday. Many eastern Great Lakes locations can expect temperatures to be 20-30 degrees lower on Saturday compared to Friday.
"While the wind and severe thunderstorm threat will wane by the time the front reaches the East Coast, a similar drop in temperature from Saturday to Sunday is expected for residents along and near the I-95 corridor from around D.C. to Boston," Sojda explained.
Most of the East Coast has been enjoying September-like conditions over the past few days, but temperatures will begin to return to normal for this time of year as the front pushes across the region. High temperatures in Washington, D.C., will fall from an unseasonably warm 75 degrees on Saturday to a near-normal 55 degrees on Sunday. Similar crashes in temperature will be felt all along the northern extent of the I-95 corridor, including cities such as Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
Meanwhile, winter will continue to gain a foothold over the Central states as yet more snow is predicted to pile up over the northern tier and the coldest blast of the season so far is projected to shatter low temperature records this weekend.
For people not in a hurry for winter weather in the East, the brutally cold air plunging into areas farther west is not predicted to move in anytime soon. It may take until nearly the end of the month before somewhat colder air settles into the East.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Weekend cooldown to follow stormy conditions in parts of Northeast
By Nicole LoBiondo, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Oct 22, 2020 2:47 PM EST
Summer and winter will continue to clash from the Midwest to the northeastern United States as a storm triggering snow and thunderstorms over the central part of the nation heads eastward into the weekend.
Thunderstorms often erupt due to warm, moist air and strong solar radiation during the summer months, but similar stormy weather conditions in the autumn generally need a bigger boost in the atmosphere to develop.
As a chilly air mass settles into the northern Great Lakes in the wake of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Thursday, a warm, moist air mass will take shape across portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley. The associated cold front with this increasingly potent storm will create enough fuel to produce thunderstorms and the risk of severe weather during the day on Friday.
Warm air in place will be forced to surge upward and over the top of the advancing cooler air associated with the front, which will lead to towering clouds and thunderstorms that could generate strong wind gusts in addition to sudden downpours.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
"On Friday, as this front meets the warmth in place across the eastern Great Lakes, severe thunderstorms may develop along the front. Residents from eastern Michigan through southern Ontario, northern Ohio, southern Ontario and western New York state will have to be on lookout for these nasty thunderstorms Friday afternoon and early evening," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda.
Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat with these thunderstorms, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for wind gusts of 70 mph. However, forecasters say even an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Some of the strongest storms could also contain small hail.
AccuWeather meteorologists also warn that strong wind gusts across the region won't just be confined to thunderstorms.
"Thunderstorms aside, gusty winds will still develop by Friday afternoon across this region ahead of the cold front," Sojda said. "Widespread wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph should be expected across the eastern Ohio Valley and Great Lakes Friday, with a few gusts to 50 mph possible."
Winds this strong could cause isolated power outages and lead to minor property damage. Any stronger wind gusts from thunderstorms could lead to more widespread damage.
Residents will want to be sure to secure any outdoor furniture or decorations ahead of these potent storms.
As the front passes to the east, a blast of cold air will be ushered into the Great Lakes region. High temperatures in Detroit will soar into the mid-70s Fahrenheit on Friday, then struggle to reach 50 degrees the next day on Saturday. Many eastern Great Lakes locations can expect temperatures to be 20-30 degrees lower on Saturday compared to Friday.
Related:
"While the wind and severe thunderstorm threat will wane by the time the front reaches the East Coast, a similar drop in temperature from Saturday to Sunday is expected for residents along and near the I-95 corridor from around D.C. to Boston," Sojda explained.
Most of the East Coast has been enjoying September-like conditions over the past few days, but temperatures will begin to return to normal for this time of year as the front pushes across the region. High temperatures in Washington, D.C., will fall from an unseasonably warm 75 degrees on Saturday to a near-normal 55 degrees on Sunday. Similar crashes in temperature will be felt all along the northern extent of the I-95 corridor, including cities such as Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
Meanwhile, winter will continue to gain a foothold over the Central states as yet more snow is predicted to pile up over the northern tier and the coldest blast of the season so far is projected to shatter low temperature records this weekend.
For people not in a hurry for winter weather in the East, the brutally cold air plunging into areas farther west is not predicted to move in anytime soon. It may take until nearly the end of the month before somewhat colder air settles into the East.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo