Michael to deliver downpours to parts of northeastern US ahead of big cooldown

Tropical moisture, some associated with Michael, will raise the risk of localized flooding in the northeastern US into Friday before more typical, fall-like weather returns.

Rain directly associated with Michael drenched southeastern Virginia and the lower part of the Delmarva Peninsula on Thursday and Thursday night.

Enough rain fell in this area to cause regional flooding of roads and streams, as well as significant river rises. Gusty, to in some cases destructive, winds accompanied the rain in this region, causing widespread power outages and toppling trees and power lines.

Where the wind blows onshore, coastal flooding is also likely.

Farther north, some tropical moisture will intertwine with a non-tropical storm ahead of the arrival of much cooler air.

Swift movement of the rain in the upper mid-Atlantic and New England should limit any flooding problems to urban and poor drainage areas and perhaps along small streams.

Enough rain can fall along the Interstate 95 corridor of the Northeast from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston to cause delays for motorists. Poor visibility and a low cloud ceiling may lead to airline delays as well.

Areas just south and east of this swath can be hit by several hours of torrential rain that will lead to flooding into Friday morning. Motorists venturing through this area should be prepared for substantial delays.

Several hours of stormy conditions are in store on Friday morning along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts as Michael speeds by. Seas will build. Small craft should remain in port. Minor coastal flooding at times of high tide are possible.

A strong push of cooler, less humid air sweeping from the Midwest to the Appalachians and Eastern Seaboard shoved Michael out to sea early Friday morning. Michael lost tropical characteristics early Friday morning and will accelerate northeastward over the open waters of the Atlantic this weekend.

In some cases, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures may be 60 degrees Fahrenheit lower by Friday night, compared to afternoons during the first half of the week.

Actual temperatures will fall by 15 to 30 degrees throughout the region. In some cases, temperatures may plunge by 40 degrees or more.

In Philadelphia, a high of 81 and a low near 70 on Wednesday will be swapped with a high near 60 and a low in the lower 40s on Saturday. A breeze will make it seem 5-10 degrees lower than the actual temperature early this weekend.

People who have become accustomed to shorts and short-sleeve shirts will be grabbing sweaters and jackets when heading out to area football games this weekend.

In parts of the Midwest and the Northeast, there is the potential for some frost as well.

"Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan may have temperatures dip into the middle 30s on Friday night," AccuWeather Lead Long Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

"That means that where the wind drops off and the sky remains clear for several hours, frost may form over the countryside," he said.

A freeze is likely across northern New York state and northern New England both Friday and Saturday night. However, temperatures have already dipped to frosty levels this autumn.

There is a chance of a bit of frost over the southern tier of New York and northern and central Pennsylvania, as well as parts of central New England, on Saturday night.

People who have summer vegetables and tender flowers may want to harvest the crop or take other preventative measures.

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