Icy East Coast is getting a break − but it will be warm, wet and sloppy
ARLINGTON, Va. − Out of the icebox and into the soup.
Much of the East Coast, which has been in the grips of teeth-chattering temperatures in one of the coldest starts to December in recent years, was in for a reprieve starting Sunday and into midweek. But that warm-up comes with a price: foggy, wet weather, and in some cases a full-blown soaker.
"This storm could bring drenching rain to portions of the Atlantic Seaboard on Wednesday and Wednesday night," AccuWeather Senior Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said in an online forecast.
The weather pattern that will impact the East Coast will begin by spreading snow over the mountains in the West, some of which could trigger travel delays in the Denver area on Monday, Accuweather said. Parts of that weather system will restrengthen near the central Gulf Coast and reach the East with wet, sloppy weather − and even possible flood risks.
Arctic blast recedes: Bitter cold winter temperatures are on their way out, but there's a catch
Finally a break from the arctic blast
Chilly temperatures will ease Sunday into the first part of the week for much of the East. Washington, D.C., had an expected high of 62 on Sunday and 60 both Tuesday and Wednesday. New York City and Philadelphia were expected to hit the mid-50s Sunday and low 60s by Wednesday.
The warm front is a sharp contrast to the close of last week when an arctic surge swept across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with snow squalls, whiteouts and intense bursts of wind that left 20 million Americans under winter weather warnings or advisories.
Even parts of Florida were not immune last week. Freeze warnings were issued as far south as Ocala, and frost advisories extended from Daytona Beach on the east coast to Homosassa Springs on the west coast. From a 'nuisance' rainfall to a soaker
The initial wave of moisture targeting the East will be mostly a "nuisance" rainfall on Monday, weather.com said, although places such as northern New England could see some snow. Tuesday could start the day with fog and mist before the heaviest rain along the I-95 corridor unleashes Wednesday, triggering travel troubles in spots with heavy fog, forecasters warned.
The rain could change to wet snow as temperatures dive by Wednesday night, but severe cold is not in the picture. "A strong push of cold air will not accompany or follow this storm but rather just enough cold air to bring some wet snow to part of the region," Lundberg said.
Flooding chances are possible
Heavy rain falling on already saturated soil − along with snow melting from the warmer temperatures − could make spots in some areas ripe for flooding, weather.com said. Localized flooding from Long Island to New England was possible, forecasters said.
Wildfire concerns crop up again in the East
The wet weather may also dampen fire concerns in some East Coast areas. Arlington, Virginia, and other Washington, D.C., suburbs were under an alert Sunday for new wildfire chances. "Due to dry conditions from the lack of rain, there is an increased risk for the spread of wildfires," the National Weather Service warned.
A record-setting dry spell in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast earlier this fall ignited an unusual wave of wildfires, including significant blazes along the New York/New Jersey border.
What do the next few weeks look like for the East, Central US?
Although the end of the week will see a chill descend upon the East again, temperatures should become more seasonal, forecasters said. Mild conditions and "significantly warmer' weather are expected for "millions of people in the Central and Eastern states," Accuweather said.
Contributing: Doyle Rice
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: East Coast weather will get warmer and wet as rainstorm moves in
