Extended stretch of dry, pleasant weather to finally grace mid-Atlantic, Northeast

By Kyle Elliott, AccuWeather meteorologist

May 23, 2018, 11:37:12 PM EDT

Following what seems like weeks of nearly continuous rainfall, sunny, warm and rain-free weather will grace the northeastern United States through late week.

The exception will be in far northern New England, where brief showers are possible on Friday.

Parts of the mid-Atlantic region have received 200 to as much as 800 percent of normal rainfall for the month of the May, the majority of which has fallen since May 12.

Water levels on rivers and streams throughout the region are running well above normal for late May, including the Potomac River from West Virginia to Washington, D.C.

Although only a few rivers are currently above flood stage, the continued stretch of dry weather will allow these swollen rivers to recede significantly and the ground to dry out.

Widespread sunshine and pleasantly warm air are forecast to accompany the drying trend.

In general, temperatures from the Interstate-95 corridor to the eastern Great Lakes will reach the 70s and 80s each afternoon through Friday.

“A significant decrease in humidity is on tap through Thursday before humidity begins to increase again by Friday,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson, who added that even muggier air may make it feel uncomfortable to many by Saturday.

For those hitting the roadways prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the tranquil weather comes as welcome news.

No weather-related travel delays are anticipated in the Northeast through Friday.

Temperatures should slowly trend upward through Saturday, with 90-degree Fahrenheit heat possible in spots east of the Appalachians by the start of the weekend.

With the return of moist air will come the renewed threat of showers and thunderstorms.

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"Thursday's and Friday's weather may be deceptive due to storms to come over the holiday weekend," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said. "The holiday weekend should not be a washout, but the longer you are outside, the better chance it will shower."

Moisture returning northward from the Gulf of Mexico will be responsible for the renewed risk of wet weather.

AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring the potential for tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico, which could further enhance downpours in the eastern United States this weekend.

Unless tropical moisture from this potential system is channeled directly into the mid-Atlantic, showers and thunderstorms should remain more widely scattered than what they were during the last one to two weeks.

While some people may be forced to move holiday celebrations indoors where thunderstorms strike, others may see little more than a few drops of rain.

The threat for weather-related disruptions will last into Memorial Day on Monday as moisture continues to stream into the East.