Rounds of rain, storms to soak mid-Atlantic into first week of May

While dry air holds over much of New England through Saturday, rounds of rain and storms will take aim on much of the mid-Atlantic into next week.

A split in the jet stream will produce the variance in the weather pattern from north to south. The jet stream is a river of air high in the atmosphere that guides weather systems along.

"One part of the jet stream will push a flow of dry and cool air from southeastern Canada to much of New England," according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams. "The other part of the jet stream will allow rounds of moisture to stream in from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico toward the mid-Atlantic."

In the short-term, the first batch of rain will only reach as far north as part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan to much of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and into southeastern New York state on Friday. The rain will graze part of Connecticut.

Rain and drizzle will dampen Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

The combination of rain and cool air will result in AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in the 30s and 40s F at times from portions of Pennsylvania to Connecticut.

Farther south, from portions of southern Ohio to much of West Virginia, Virginia and lower Maryland, the air will be warm enough to allow some thunderstorms to develop. The storms can rumble in Cincinnati; Charleston, West Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

A few of the storms could bring locally gusty winds, hail and frequent lightning strikes as far south as northern Florida.

For much of the mid-Atlantic, Saturday will offer the best day of the next week or so for outdoor plans.

Following a southward push of the rain and a breakup of clouds during Saturday, rain is likely to return to much of the upper reaches of the Ohio Valley, part of the lower Great Lakes and the mid-Atlantic states during Saturday night and Sunday.

"It looks like the confluence zone [the area where the two branches of the jet stream meet] will retreat northward later in the weekend," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

As a result, the next batch of rain is likely to sweep farther to the north and reach upstate New York and much of New England from late Sunday into Monday.

"This kind of pattern, with a parade of storms, each with similar tracks, can lead to locally heavy rainfall amounts into next week," Abrams said.

The unfolding pattern will bring relief after the recent weeks of dry conditions and elevated risk of wildfires for much of the mid-Atlantic region. In this area, a general inch or so of rain is likely with up to a few inches in some locations into next week.

While the rain will be a boost for lawns and agriculture, it could bring construction and other outdoor projects to a crawl.

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