Topsy-turvy temperatures, weekend storminess in store for Northeast
AccuWeather forecasters warn the temperature roller coaster will not come to an end in the Northeast anytime soon. Plus, a potent storm this weekend could disrupt any outdoor plans.
Residents across the northeastern United States have been riding a temperature roller coaster in recent days as high temperatures soared to summerlike levels only to abruptly plummet back to the chillier conditions more typical of early spring. AccuWeather forecasters say this temperature tug-of-war will not come to an end anytime soon, and a potent storm may also disrupt weekend plans.
Late last week, high-temperature records were broken across a 1,100-mile-long swath of the U.S. that stretched from the Midwest all the way to the Atlantic coast. Over the past weekend, many of these same locations encountered dramatically lower high temperatures, some nearly 40 degrees Fahrenheit less than the previous 24–48 hours.
Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
Another significant warmup and subsequent cooldown are in store for the Northeast spanning Thursday to Monday.
Tuesday was the coolest day across most of the northeastern U.S. as chilly air pushed south from Canada. Morning commuters in portions of Pennsylvania and New York saw a few snowflakes fly in the midst of showery and drizzly weather. In State College, Pennsylvania, temperatures reached just 42 degrees Tuesday, with the city spending most of the day in the 30s. AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures dipped into the 20s for a time. In comparison, high temperatures in Happy Valley reached the mid-80s last week.
Temperatures began to moderate on Wednesday and ended up at levels somewhat more typical of mid-April by the end of the day for the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic region.
Places like New York City and Allentown, Pennsylvania, both reached a high temperature in the mid-60s on Wednesday. While high temperatures are set to return to seasonable levels, a jacket may still come in handy for folks headed outdoors.
Following only a slight uptick in temperatures Wednesday, Thursday will be a different story entirely.
"Areas with high temperatures only in the 40s F to near 50 F on Tuesday will see a remarkable turnaround to near-record warmth by Thursday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
Residents in cities like Pittsburgh, where temperatures spent most of Tuesday in the 40s, only reaching the low 50s in the late afternoon, will experience much warmer weather Thursday. Highs in the Steel City will reach the mid-80s Thursday and challenge the existing record temperature of 86 from 1941.
Thursday will be a great day to get outside and take advantage of the warmth and dry weather, forecasters say.
"People will be shedding winter coats for shorts and t-shirts," Pydynowski said.
Friday is likely to be even warmer across the Northeast, with additional high-temperature records likely to be challenged. A cool breeze from the Atlantic may sweep inland in portions of Delaware, New Jersey and southeastern New York. But, just west of this sea breeze, temperatures will soar into the 80s.
The chances for showers will return for some areas Friday as a cold front begins to move through the Great Lakes. However, the stormiest weather of the week is expected to occur by the start of the weekend.
“A potent cold front will track across the interior Northeast late Saturday, bringing a swath of drenching rain to the region,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Smithmyer said. Conditions will become blustery earlier in the day across parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, she added.
"Heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely to hold off in Washington, D.C., until the mid-afternoon and perhaps the end of the day around Philadelphia," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "Stormy conditions probably will not evolve until Saturday night in New York City, but it could become quite nasty with heavy rain and gusty winds and even thunder and lightning."
"As the storms or windswept rain pivots through the mid-Atlantic corridor, the number of flight delays and cancelations will increase substantially," Sosnowski said.
Anyone with scheduled outdoor activities will have to plan accordingly and keep an eye on MinuteCast® with the free AccuWeather app.
In the wake of Saturday's storminess, temperatures will once again crash Sunday.
"By the end of the weekend, jackets will have to come back out as temperatures tumble yet again as the topsy-turvy trend continues," Pydynowski said.
The air may turn cold enough to allow widespread areas of frosts and freezes over the interior Northeast with low temperatures in the 20s to low 30s in store on Sunday night and Monday night.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
