As the northeast and the east coast's most populated areas kick off another work week, the weather remains a troublesome companion. New York City, in particular, is set for a challenging morning commute thanks to a corridor of heavy rain forming from the Delmarva Peninsula through Long Island into southern sections of Connecticut. With potential rainfall rates of two to three inches per hour, there are severe concerns for the highly populated metropolitan areas like New York City, the Bronx, and their outer suburbs.
With the grounds already saturated from overnight rain, the additional band of precipitation makes the potential for flooding very real. This concern is not without precedent, as 58 million Americans are already under flash flood alerts with some locations in Maryland under flood warnings.
South Carolina saw the brunt of the heavy rain overnight, prompting flooding in several regions. Over ten inches of rain fell in Georgetown, South Carolina alone. Still, the question remains about how much more rain these regions can anticipate. Locally, heavy bands could yield an additional two to three inches of rain in and around New York City, the Long Island region, and across the northeast into northern New England.
Charleston, South Carolina, adds to the narrative with not only excessive rainfall but also rising water levels due to the surge from the Atlantic Ocean coupled with strong winds. In fact, Charleston Harbor recorded some of its highest non-tropical storm water levels in documented history at 9.86 ft. A combination of inland flooding and the surge components made it difficult for floodwaters to drain appropriately.
Meanwhile, Florida saw gusty winds over the weekend, an aftereffect from this significant storm, with West Palm Beach recording peak wind gusts of 61 MPH. But the storm's impact wasn't only in the form of rain and wind. Its snow impact was felt too, particularly along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains and interiors across the Midwest.
In summary, the active start to the week looks set to disrupt travel plans in the run-up to the busy holiday season. The weather woes stretch far and wide, from flash flood alerts affecting over 50 million Americans, severe flooding in Charleston, and anticipated rainfall of 2 to 3 inches in New York.
