Maine’s Portland (AP) Due in part to an atmospheric river and a building bomb cyclone, the U.S. East Coast was starting a potentially dangerous, windy, and rainy stretch of weather on Wednesday that might cause whiplash.
In a single day, areas such as western Maine may see freezing rain, torrential downpours, abnormally high temperatures, and destructive winds, said to National Weather Service forecaster Derek Schroeter.
Forecasters warned that flooding may occur in several locations and that the intense rain and strong gusts will last until Wednesday night in many areas. Additionally, utilities were preparing for possible power disruptions due to damage from winds that in some places could reach 60 mph (97 kph).
An atmospheric river, a lengthy band of water vapor that may carry moisture from the tropics to more northern regions, is one of the main elements influencing the weather, according to Schroeter, who is headquartered in Gray, Maine.
Because it has the capacity to draw moisture from the Atlantic Ocean off the southeast coast of the United States and carry it to states like Maine, the storm has the potential to have a significant impact on New England. According to Schroeter, the state was getting ready for a complex storm that would dump two to three inches of rain in some places.
From Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening, similar circumstances had been feasible in other locations.
With the freezing rain on Tuesday night, we’re looking at the risk of slick travel, and as temperatures rise into the 50s (10–15 Celsius), we’ll be keeping an eye out for the possibility of flash floods and sudden rises on streams, Schroeter added.
Additionally, forecasters warned that the storm might involve a bomb cyclone, a process known to meteorologists as “bombogenesis.” That is the ability of a cyclone to intensify quickly and with the potential to generate heavy rainfall.
The Northeast was already bracing for severe weather. Tuesday started with a couple of inches of snow, and some schools in Maine were operating on a delay. From Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning, Vermont is under a flood watch.
Residents in Montpelier, Vermont, were being advised by the city to elevate goods in basements and low locations that are susceptible to flooding and to prepare for mild flooding in the area. The city announced on Tuesday that it will be closely monitoring the river levels during this storm and has been in communication with Vermont Dam Safety and the National Weather Service.
On Wednesday, ski resorts in the Northeast were getting ready for what might be a stormy day. The southern Vermont resort, Stratton Mountain Resort, advised visitors to bring Gore-Tex clothing because the weather is expected to be wet.
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This item was written by Lisa Rathke of the Associated Press in Marshfield, Vermont.
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