Rounds of rain, thunderstorms to pester northeastern US into end of April
Roads along the Kennebec River in Augusta, Maine, were flooded on April 21, as the rivers water levels continued to rise due to snow melt and heavy rain.
Frequent storms will prevent people across the northeastern United States from enjoying an extended stretch of dry weather into the start of May.
"The Northeast will be the target of multiple rounds of storms through next week," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Edwards.
While there will be dry periods in between, a storm may cross the Northeast with some rain about every other day through at least the end of April.
Thunderstorms can also rumble in parts of the Northeast with each storm, but a repeat of the widespread severe weather from Palm Sunday and then again last Friday in the southern mid-Atlantic is not anticipated.
Regardless, anyone outdoors when a thunderstorm approaches is reminded to seek shelter. A rumble of thunder indicates that you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Temperatures can also fluctuate ahead of and behind the storms. Enough cold air can even filter across northern New England for wintry weather to make a comeback at times.
The combination of recent rain and snowmelt has brought many rivers out of their banks across northern New England. The Connecticut River at Dalton, New Hampshire, reached major flood stage at 22 feet on Monday.
The upcoming rain can lead to additional rises or delay when the Connecticut River and others in the region fall below flood stage.
On the other hand, the bouts of rain will help to quell the fire danger that typically unfolds in the spring.
The unsettled weather pattern will mean that residents should keep rain gear handy, prepare for potential disruptions to some outdoor activities and take full advantage of the dry days between each storm.
Delays or postponements could spoil plans to attend baseball games on the days the storms pester the Northeast.
In the wake of showers and thunderstorms from Tuesday night, many areas got a break from rain on Wednesday.
However, the next storm in the series was already producing patchy rain over the Midwest.
"This unsettled pattern just will not quit," Edwards said. "Another storm will push into Pittsburgh with showers on Thursday before continuing into New York City, Boston and Philadelphia for Friday."
Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday may be the better day for outdoor plans.
"Yet another storm will push through the Northeast on Sunday," Edwards stated.
(Pixabay image/Steve Buissinne)
AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok does not anticipate a change to the weather when the calendar flips ahead to May.
"The Northeast will continue to have showery weather and some thunderstorm activity for the start of May," according to Pastelok.
Download the free AccuWeather app for more precise details on what days will be dry or rainy in your community. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
