Rain, storms to invade northeastern US on nearly daily basis this week

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

May 13, 2018, 3:44:21 PM EDT

Numerous outdoor plans will be in jeopardy this week across the northeastern United States as showers and thunderstorms frequent the region.

"After a relatively warm and dry start to the month of May, the pattern has become much more humid and wet heading into the middle of the month across the Northeast," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

The weather pattern shaping up will allow showers and thunderstorms to track across the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic on a nearly daily basis this week.

"Moisture flowing northward into the area combined with a stalled front will yield the unsettled weather in places such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia through much of the week," Pydynowski said.

Pushes of dry air from the north will bring more dry days to New England.

Across the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, farmers may find it challenging to get into fields to plant crops. The unsettled weather may also keep residents from mowing lawns.

Many sporting events and other outdoor plans can face delays or postponements this week. This includes the Major League Baseball games set to be played in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh and New York City.

Disruptions to the games at Boston’s Fenway Park may be limited to one or two days.

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In communities that get hit numerous times with downpours, streams may rise and local flash flooding may occur in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Downpours and thunderstorms can lead to minor flight delays and reduced visibility for motorists.

The stage may also be set for some of the thunderstorms to turn severe.

This weekend will end with a few thunderstorms turning heavy and gusty across northern West Virginia and northern Virginia. Thunderstorms with small hail may even survive to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

A cluster of thunderstorms diving down from the lower Great Lakes may bring damaging winds and flooding downpours to the upper Ohio Valley and southern mid-Atlantic on Monday. Gusty thunderstorms may target more of the mid-Atlantic on Tuesday.

Even in the absence of severe weather and flooding, anyone outdoors is reminded to seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard. The risk of being struck by lightning is then present.

The one advantage of the rain will be to erase the abnormally dry conditions that have developed over the southern mid-Atlantic, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The thunderstorms are expected to hold off long enough on Monday for highs in the 90s to sizzle most of the Ohio Valley and then the mid-Atlantic from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday.

Record highs will once again be challenged as humidity creates higher AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures.

These days should be the hottest of the week.

"Clouds, rain and thunderstorms will otherwise hold temperatures down across the region," Pydynowski said.

Humidity, however, will have more staying power from the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, making for the longest stretch of sticky conditions so far this year.

Low humidity and more seasonable temperatures will largely complement the drier days across New England this week.

The exception along the New England coast will be when the air flows in from the chilly ocean and significantly holds down temperatures. Residents in Boston may experience another couple of days this week with highs only in the 50s.