The system began producing showers and thunderstorms across the South on Tuesday, but the days of the most significant impacts are expected to be Wednesday and Thursday.
Forecast models show a widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain stretching from the Appalachians into the Northeast, with locally heavier amounts.
Included in the heavy rainfall zones are Boston, New York City and Baltimore, where some airport delays have already been reported due to the adverse weather.
For much of the Northeast, the precipitation is welcome news, with drought conditions ranging from moderate to extreme. However, flooding is expected because of how quickly the rain is expected to fall.
Flood watches have been issued for millions of residents in the Northeast, as the combination of rainfall and snowmelt could be problematic for some communities in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
But along the East Coast, more than 10 million people from the Carolinas to New England have been placed in a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe weather on NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
In fact, the upgrade to the Level 2 threat for the National Weather Service’s office in New York is the highest December severe weather threat since 2010.
The epicenter for most of the hazardous weather will be in the Northeast, where flooding rain, inland snow and gusty winds are expected for most of Wednesday and into early Thursday.
A stream of moisture is expected to lead to widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 4 inches, with locally heavier amounts.
Additionally, a strong pressure gradient will trigger winds to near hurricane force along the coastline.
Wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph could be problematic between New York City and Boston, where high wind warnings were in effect.
The FOX Forecast Center warns damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, resulting in power outages.
Many poorly secured Christmas decorations will be no match for Mother Nature.
The FOX Forecast Center warns damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, resulting in power outages.
The experts at Christmas Central have several tips to keep those inflatable decorations from flying away.
The company suggests using stakes, sandbags, and even twine to keep the wind from becoming the season’s Grinch.
If you want guaranteed success, you might have to temporarily collapse and store the holiday decorations until the threat of significant weather passes.
Most major airports in the Northeast were reporting delays of between 30 minutes and one hour on Tuesday, but delays are expected to be extensive on Wednesday and into Thursday morning.
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