Resurgence of severe storms, flash flood risk coming to Northeast
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While the summer of 2023 may not be remembered for its heat in the Northeast, a lasting legacy will be incidents of torrential rain and flash flooding, and AccuWeather meteorologists say that risk will continue as the final days of the summer tick down.
Since June 1, much of New England has received one-and-a-half to two times its historical average rainfall with some locations topping 2 feet of rain.
The latest bout of torrential downpours on Monday brought localized flash flooding from New Jersey to New Hampshire. In Fitchburg, Massachusetts, close to 5 inches of rain fell in as many hours from late in the afternoon to the evening hours. Portions of central Massachusetts not only had major flooding on area streets and highways but vehicles were also submerged, trapping residents, and sinkholes developed. Officials declared a state of emergency in Leominster, Massachusetts, located northwest of Boston, which was hit hard and remained in danger Tuesday due to a vulnerable dam.
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A home was flooded in Leominster Massachusetts following flooding in the state on Monday night, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Casey) |
New York City's Central Park picked up a quick 0.94 of an inch of rain between 6 and 7 p.m. Monday, which led to flooding on some city streets and highways during the evening rush hour.
This past weekend, 4 inches of rain poured down in several hours, resulting in widespread flash flooding in Pennsylvania from Dallas to Clarks Summit, including Scranton, Pennsylvania. One person drowned as she exited her vehicle in high, rushing water in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, according to local news affiliates.
Following a relatively quiet day in terms of downpours Tuesday along the Interstate 95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic and New England, an approaching cool front preceded by a surge of moisture will continue to press eastward, setting off more storms in part of the area into Wednesday evening.
Heating of the day will cause columns of rising air and towering clouds to evolve into torrential downpours and severe thunderstorms from near New York City to central and southern New England into Wednesday evening.
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Motorists and airline passengers should be prepared for travel delays from just northeast of New York City to Boston. Airline ground stops are possible as downpours or storms move into the airspace of the major hubs.
"The main threat from the storms into Wednesday evening in the Northeast will be from flash flooding," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
1 to 3 inches of rain may pour down in as many hours, which is more than enough to overwhelm some storm drains and collect in low spots along area roads and highways. Rapid flooding of small streams is also possible due to the saturated state of the ground and low evaporation rates in September.
Along with the likelihood of flash flooding, there is the potential for storms to pack high winds and hail. A small number of tornadoes may also occur.
"The greatest risk for a couple of tornadoes will extend through Connecticut and western and central Massachusetts into early Wednesday evening," AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer said.
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In the wake of the front, a sweep of much cooler and less humid air will expand eastward from the Midwest on Thursday and Friday.
The air coming in may not be the coolest or the driest in recent weeks, but it will bring an opportunity for residents to turn off air conditioners and open windows. Nighttime lows will be in the 40s and 50s over the Appalachians and the mid-50s to lower 60s along much of the I-95 corridor late this week.
In eastern New England and central New England, that cooling and drying trend could come to a halt this weekend, depending on the track of Hurricane Lee over the Atlantic.
Concern AccuWeather meteorologists had for a more westward track of Lee will likely be realized. Landfall in Maine or New Brunswick will bring a significant impact to eastern New England with high winds, flooding rain and storm surge this weekend.
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AccuWeather will continue to provide updates on Hurricane Lee through its duration as well as additional tropical systems brewing over the Atlantic in the coming days.
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