Dry weather pattern builds across much of eastern U.S.
Dry, cool air will settle across much of the Northeast following recent rain, aiding outdoor plans and harvests—but increasing wildfire risk, stressing lawns and bringing patchy frost and fog.
Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter explains how you can monitor weather conditions in multiple locations with the free AccuWeather app. This feature is useful for friends and families in different areas.
Following widespread rainfall across the Northeast this past weekend, dry conditions have resumed in much of the region and will continue in areas that missed out on recent downpours.
The pattern is favorable for outdoor activities such as construction, painting, sporting events, golf and seasonal harvests, including grapes, apples and corn. Cool conditions may make outdoor work more comfortable for laborers.
However, the dryness may pose challenges for those attempting to establish new lawns.
The risk of wildfires will be on the rise, as stressed trees tend to shed their leaves prematurely and grassy areas have already become dormant.
Dry brush along roadways can be a frequent ignition point for brushfires in the region.
From Aug. 1 through Sept. 10, rainfall has been well below the historical average across much of the northeastern United States.
The downpours from the latest series of cool fronts have helped a bit in the short term, but with renewed dryness this week, watering operations for new lawns and golf courses will be in full swing. Many areas in the region are experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions.
Dry air, sunshine and a breeze will accelerate ground moisture evaporation following the rain from last Saturday to Sunday.
Despite the dry air, fog will tend to form in some of the valleys late at night and may linger into the morning drive, especially where there are rivers or lakes.
For those unaffected by the dry conditions, patchy fog or frost (earlier in the week), the weather may appear spectacular with low humidity and sunshine by day and shut-the-window cool conditions at night.
It will not be totally dry everywhere, however.
Farther south, where the cool and dry air stops short, tropical moisture will bring periods of heavy rainfall across Florida most of this week. Enough rain may fall to flood urban and low-lying areas.
The rain will tend to depart coastal areas of the Carolinas and Georgia and the Florida mainland for the later days of the week, after a wet start.
Meanwhile, a zone of showers and thunderstorms that was over the Plains states will struggle to advance eastward. Instead, the cool and dry pattern will persist much of this week in the east, while the Plains states experience a significant warmup.
The next chance of showers and thunderstorms for part of the Northeast will come later this weekend as a vigorous dip in the jet stream drops in from Canada. Depending on the intensity, gusty thunderstorms with hail could occur in some areas.
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