Stormy weather to kick off 1st weekend of summer in northeastern US
A storm will crawl through the northeastern part of the nation during the first weekend of summer with rounds of drenching showers and thunderstorms.
"June is a popular time for graduations and weddings, but the weather may not cooperate with these plans, other outdoor activities and travel this weekend," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey.
Drenching downpours have already clobbered parts of the Northeast this past week.
Portions of Virginia have been some of the latest spots to be hit with flooding downpours. In addition to flooding in Richmond, water rescues were performed between Louisa and Mineral, Virginia, early on Friday.
"Overall, Saturday is likely to be the wettest of the two weekend days for the mid-Atlantic, central Appalachians and southwestern New England, but it could rain just about everywhere during both days of the weekend," Duffey said.
Rain will fall outside of this area but may not be as long-lasting and take up only part of the day.
Thunderstorms will be embedded in the rainfall. People should move indoors at the first rumble of thunder.
On Saturday, the best chance of locally gusty thunderstorms and perhaps the greatest risk of flash and urban-style flooding is likely to be from along the Chesapeake Bay to eastern North Carolina. A few heavy, gusty storms could extend into southeast Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
It could be a rough ride along the Interstate 95 corridor.
People heading to the Astronomy Festival in Washington, D.C., on Saturday should be prepared to dodge downpours and be mindful of the risk of thunderstorms.
On Sunday, the main storm is forecast to exit eastern Maine in the morning. Overall, the storm's departure should translate to less rain, less often over the region. It may also allow the sun to break out in a number of locations, while some showers and storms can erupt during the afternoon and evening in other locations.
It is possible the bulk of the downpours occur north and west of Interstate 95 during the afternoon. Some of these storms may encroach on the coast toward evening.
One or more of the MLB games scheduled in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C., could be delayed or postponed this weekend due to the rain and/or thunderstorms.
Torrential downpours forced the postponement of the MLB game in Pittsburgh during Wednesday evening. Flooding occurred in the Pittsburgh area, including at the stadium, where 1-4 inches of rain fell in as many hours.
Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse attendant Scott Bennett carries bats through a flooded tunnel from the dugout after a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers was called due to rain in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, June 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Motorists are advised never to attempt to drive through flooded roads since the water may be much deeper than it appears and/or the road surface may have been washed away.
During early next week, dry air is projected to punch in from Ontario and Quebec. Sunshine and low humidity will return to the region on Monday and Tuesday. Dry and sunny conditions may hold in New England and along the mid-Atlantic coast on Wednesday as well.
