Sunday's calm day in northeastern US to give way to more rain, wind and thunderstorms

Sunday’s calm weather in the northeastern United States will give way to more soaking rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms early this week, which could affect voter turnout on Election Day.

Following the deadly severe weather on Friday night and strong winds on Saturday, Sunday featured a quiet end to the weekend in the Northeast.

Residents, however, should not get use to the dry and calm weather.

Umbrellas will once again be needed from the mid-Atlantic to upstate New York as rain and drizzle quickly return on Monday. Rain will also spread to southern New England for the afternoon.

Where pockets of downpours develop over the mid-Atlantic and southern New England, travel delays may transpire.

"Gusty onshore winds may also lead to minor flooding in areas prone to coastal flooding around high tide on Monday in New Jersey and Long Island," according to Senior Meteorologist John Feerick.

Many more disruptions to travel can unfold on Tuesday as a potent storm races into the Northeast with a band of rain, gusty winds and potentially severe thunderstorms.

Voter turnout could be affected, or voters may want to consider altering their schedules for when they head to the polls to avoid the storminess.

Download the free AccuWeather app to know when the rain and thunderstorms are anticipated for your community.

Winds are expected to increase across most of the Northeast on Tuesday as the line of downpours and thunderstorms advances from the eastern Ohio River to the I-95 corridor.

"It appears that the heaviest of the rain and thunderstorms may coincide with Tuesday afternoon for the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.

The heaviest rain, which may focus on areas north and west of I-95, can trigger flash flooding in urban and poor drainage areas. That is especially true where fallen leaves are clogging storm drains.

Motorists will once again be faced with the dangers of reduced visibility, vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds and leaf-covered roads turning slick.

Locally damaging winds can also be produced as the main line of rain and thunderstorms sweeps eastward across the Northeast, even in the absence of thunder.

Severe thunderstorms may also rumble southward to the Capital region and through the Carolinas.

There can be a brief period in some communities when the winds are strong enough to cause power outages and tree damage. Trash cans and other outdoor decorations can easily be tossed around and damaged.

Any power outages can disrupt voters at polling stations in buildings without generators.

Howling winds on the storm’s backside may prolong the threat for damage around the eastern Great Lakes into Tuesday night.

"Due to the recent soaking rain, trees are now sitting in saturated soil and may be more susceptible to being knocked down by the strong winds," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve Travis.

Ahead of the potent storm, residents of the Northeast will catch another break from chilly conditions.

"A surge of milder air will move into the region ahead of the storm, sending temperatures into the 50s and 60s in many areas on Tuesday,” Pydynowski said.

Highs in the lower 70s are even expected in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

As quick as the band of rain and thunderstorms sweeps through the Northeast, gusty winds will usher drier and progressively cooler air across the Northeast (away from places downwind of the Great Lakes) Wednesday into Thursday.

"Tuesday’s storm will not mark an end to the active weather pattern in the Northeast," according to Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido.

A new storm may target the Northeast by the end of the week.

"If this storm comes to fruition, it should track in a fashion similar to recent ones, meaning another round of rain, wind and surge of milder air for the majority of the Northeast," Vido said.

"More snow may be produced on the storm’s northwestern flank, but that can occur over the Midwest."

Brisk winds may usher another shot of cooler air back into the Northeast behind the storm next weekend.

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