First weekend of May to feel like fall in northeastern US
Chilly, fall-like air will be accompanied by rain and snow showers across the northeastern United States this weekend.
The air will turn cool enough for heaters, blankets, sweatshirts and thick jackets to be needed once again. Enough of a chill will settle in place for a frost to occur in some locations.
Temperatures will average 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, and will be more typical of March or November.
“After a record warm April in many locations throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, the first weekend of May will provide a stark contrast to April’s summerlike heat,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott said.
A storm will first douse the region with soaking rain and thunderstorms late this week.
Chilly air will be funneled southward on the back side of the storm this weekend.
“The storm will virtually stall out over northern New England through Sunday, allowing the chilly air to push the entire way to the Interstate-95 corridor and southern mid-Atlantic,” Elliott said.
Temperatures will fail to exceed the 40s to middle 50s F over interior areas by Sunday. Highs will be closer to the 60-degree mark along the mid-Atlantic and southeastern New England coasts.
Brisk winds will result in AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures 5 to 10 degrees lower than the actual temperature.
Rain and snow showers will be triggered as the storm sits and spins overhead.
“Snow can fall across the West Virginia, western Maryland and southwestern Pennsylvania mountains this weekend,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Wet snowflakes can mix in with rain showers elsewhere across the interior Northeast, especially during Saturday night.
Cloud cover at night will generally act as a blanket and protect most areas against frost into this weekend, even though nighttime temperatures in the coldest areas can dip into the middle 30s.
Those hoping for the return of warm weather will be out of luck anytime soon as chilly conditions are expected to persist into next week.
"During next week, there will be a few occasions where frost can occur from interior New England to the interior of the northern mid-Atlantic states, when skies become clear and winds diminish at night," Pastelok said. "This includes areas as far south as northern Virginia."
Those who have planted flowers and vegetation should be prepared take precautions to protect sensitive plants. Simple steps such as covering plants or bringing them indoors can keep them shielded from the potentially damaging effects of the chill.
“It is quite possible that average temperatures in many locations throughout the Northeast end up lower in May than those recorded in April,” Elliott said.
Near- to above-average warmth may not to return to the region until during the second half or latter part of May.
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