Soaking downpours to ride northern rim of heat in northeastern US this weekend

A sharp contrast between rainy, cool weather and sunny, warm weather will define Mother's Day weekend in the northeastern United States.

Following dry weather for much of the region on Friday, dramatic differences in the weather are forecast across the region this weekend.

"In a matter of 50 to 100 miles, a north to south temperature difference of 30 degrees Fahrenheit may occur from the Great Lakes to the Northeast," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Gresiak.

A sharp boundary separating rain and thunderstorms from sunshine and surging warmth is likely to develop on Saturday.

Temperatures are projected to surge well into the 80s F to near 90 on Saturday across much of the Ohio Valley and the lower mid-Atlantic.

"North of the warm and sunny zone, enough rain may fall to cause localized flooding, and some communities could be hit by gusty thunderstorms along the edge of the warmth and steadier rain," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio.

Clouds and the arrival of showers and thunderstorms are likely to cap temperatures in the 70s to lower 80s from central Indiana to central Ohio, central Pennsylvania and central New Jersey.

On Saturday, a swath of drenching rain and embedded thunderstorms is likely from southern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan to much of upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and central and southern New England.

Airline delays are possible in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston and Buffalo and Albany, New York, on Saturday. Wet weather is forecast over much of the Interstate 90 corridor and for I-80 in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

During Saturday night and on Mother's Day, the area of soaking rain is forecast to slowly press southward across the Ohio Valley, central Appalachians and much of the mid-Atlantic.

The speed at which the wet and thundery conditions advance on Sunday will determine which areas hold on to warmth and sunshine for several hours, stay wet much of the day, or start the day off damp and then dry out.

At this time, it appears areas from southern Kentucky to central and southern Virginia, lower Maryland and southern Delaware are likely to stay warm and sunny during at least the first part of Sunday.

Meanwhile, areas from Michigan to upstate New York and northern New England can expect much cooler conditions with a chance of sunshine breaking through before the sun sets.

The Interstate 70, 76 and 80 corridors are most likely to be impacted by drenching rain for at least several hours on Sunday.

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