A northeast weekend washout moves in cold from the west
As it sinks into the jet stream from the eastern seaboard and is now fully interacting, Phillip has become a non-tropical system. Phillip’s ghost will then meet a cold front from the west and moisture from the two will combine to produce widespread drenching showers across the Northeast this weekend.
New York – Flash flood watches were issued for eastern Maine and the New York City area on Saturday as a powerful front combines with moisture from Tropical Storm Phillip to produce heavy rain across the Northeast over the weekend.
As hurricane season enters October, here’s what to expect in the tropics
Tropical Storm Phillip became a post-tropical cyclone on Friday, and a new version of the storm will meet a powerful cold front in the northeast this weekend, leaving a wet mess.
“The front will bring its own moisture and wind energy,” said Fox Weather Hurricane Specialist Brian Norcross. “The net result will be heavy rain and gusty winds in New England (Saturday) through Sunday along the I-95 corridor in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast (Saturday). Combo will bring rain as a coastal storm. and pre-meeting.”
What is a post-tropical cyclone?
Philip has joined the cold as it approaches New England this weekend. (Fox Weather)
Moisture from the two systems will combine to bring heavy rain and strong winds, triggering flash flooding and scattered power outages, the Fox Forecast Center said. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected, but some areas could receive 5 inches as much of the soil in New England and across the Northeast is already saturated from a wet summer.
Flooding is expected in eastern Maine from Philip’s remnants
A flash flood watch is in effect for parts of south-central and west-central Maine and the coastal Southeast from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning.
New York City, Boston are set to splash from June through the 13th rainy weekend
The heavy rain in Phillip will begin moving into Maine Saturday evening, with several hours of moderate rain Saturday night into Sunday morning.
3-5 inches of widespread rain is possible Sunday afternoon.
During fall in New England, peak foliage will increase the risk of flash flooding in some areas, according to the Fox Forecast Center. This is because strong winds can cause leaves to fall faster, blocking storm drains and embankments.
However, it is noted that soil conditions in the region are drier than usual, which will help reduce the risk of flash floods in some areas.
High surf advisories extend across the Maine coast through Sunday for waves of 5-10 feet.
East New York, New York City is under a flash flood warning for Saturday
A second stretch of flooding has spread across the Hudson River Valley and much of western Vermont into the New York City area, thanks to a cold front blowing across the region.
Expect heavy rain Saturday afternoon through Saturday afternoon.
Although there is not enough moisture in the atmosphere to make it to Maine, the rain is expected to last a long time, the FOX Forecast Center reported. People in the area can expect 1-2 inches of widespread rain, with some areas receiving up to 3-4 inches.
Rainfall rates can reach 1-3 inches per hour, resulting in overflowing drainage systems and flooding.
As a result, flash flood watches are in effect for the New York City area, the Lower Hudson Valley and southwestern Connecticut and northeastern New Jersey through Saturday evening. Flash flooding is a concern in the Hudson Valley, from Albany south to the New Jersey Poconos, where rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour fall on saturated soils.
NOAA has highlighted the concern for flash flooding in New York’s Hudson Valley and Adirondacks through Saturday evening. (Fox Weather)
Heavy rains interacting with the Adirondacks terrain also present a flash flood hazard.
New York has already activated their flash flood emergency plan as the risk of flooding increases for vulnerable areas. Soils in the region are already saturated — New York City, which flooded last week amid record rainfall.
“There are places that could flood very easily because of the tipping point,” Fox Weather meteorologist Amy Freese said. “Plus, there’s a storm here, and that’s accompanied by streams of moisture.”
According to the FOX Forecast Center, areas across Massachusetts and Connecticut will be particularly sensitive to any heavy rain, as they have seen 200-300% of average rainfall over the past two weeks.
“We had the weekend of June 1-13 with rain in the Northeast, and here we go again,” Freese added. “We’re looking at rain across New England, basically a washout in the Northeast for the weekend.”
Winds 50-60 mph Saturday night into Sunday
In addition to the heavy rain, Phillip’s storm center will produce a small area of powerful winds in lower eastern Maine.
Wind gusts of 50-60 mph are possible as the low pressure system passes through Saturday night and Sunday. As a result, some power outages may occur.
Wind gusts as high as 57 miles per hour are considered damaging, but on a brisk day small limbs can be uprooted and fall onto power lines.
The weather will improve from Sunday to Monday
Rain will push north on Sunday, eventually moving from Maine into southeastern Canada, allowing drier weather to move from south to north.
The region should remain relatively dry on Monday, but rain will return by midweek and long-range forecast models suggest stormy weather will return to the northeast next weekend.
