Is an end to the unrelenting northeastern US downpours in sight?
Rounds of torrential downpours and incidents of flooding will plague the northeastern United States this week, but there are signs a less rainy pattern is likely to evolve next week.
Motorists and airline passengers should be prepared for delays related to flooding, locally severe thunderstorms and poor visibility this week.
The areas that will the greatest risk of flooding problems this week includes areas hit hard last week, such as parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as new territory in West Virginia, Virginia and upstate New York.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert for severe weather and flooding dangers and to check the latest on upcoming rainfall.
Where's the rain on the coast?
Aside from a passing shower or drenching thunderstorm, most days through Thursday are likely to be free of rain the majority of the time from northeastern North Carolina to southeastern Virginia, much of Delmarva, southern and eastern New Jersey, Long Island, New York and southeastern New England.
However, on Friday and Saturday, the Bermuda high may weaken enough to allow moisture to converge on the coastal areas from the west and south.
Sunnier, warmer and drier days next week
The Northeast, Midwest and a large portion of the South will warm up and trend sunnier and much less rainy by next week.
Upper-80- and 90-degree Fahrenheit temperatures are likely to become more common, compared to that of late July and early August.
High humidity is likely to accompany the heat next week.
The weather trends will occur as a change in the jet stream pattern is anticipated by next week.
"The Bermuda high is projected to first extend hundreds of miles farther to the west over the southeastern U.S.," Pastelok said. "By the end of next week, a northward bulge in the jet stream, a complete opposite of the current pattern, is likely to be centered over the Midwest."
In lieu of any tropical activity around Florida and the Gulf coast, there can still be pop-up, locally heavy thunderstorms in the eastern part of the nation, but the storms will be much fewer and farther between when compared to last week and this week.
The frequent rainfall is boosting the size of some vegetables, including tomatoes, melons and squash, but not necessarily the flavor.
"Perhaps with sunnier and warmer conditions later in August, the flavor of some local area fruits and vegetables will sweeten, following the siege of cloudy and wet conditions," according to AccuWeather Agricultural Meteorologist Dale Mohler.
Typical pattern for mid-August may take shape
"We expect weather systems to progress eastward across the northern tier so that a couple of rounds of showers and perhaps severe weather may occur from the Great Lakes to the Northeast during the middle of month," Pastelok said.
While the midmonth pattern could bring a brief episode or two of heavy rain, wet weather will be much less frequent in areas that have been hit hard last week or will be hit hard this week.
Lengthening nights and ample moisture in the ground may result in areas of fog, especially in the river valleys during the early morning hours.
It is possible a tropical system or two may be active over the Atlantic basin. Any tropical system that develops and tracks toward the U.S. coast could throw a wrench into the drier weather pattern.
How much rain do you think is in the forecast? Make your prediction now with Forecaster Challenge. Click the image above to play.
