Northeast Faces Flood Threat, Interior Snow and Ice

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/rain-mild-weather-to-bring-flo/24980577

While snow and ice threaten to cause treacherous travel across the interior, flooding will threaten other parts of the Northeast through the rest of this weekend.

According to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, "Parts of upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and New England can receive a few inches of rain this weekend."

A slow-moving storm, the second of two systems since Friday, will continue to roll through the area through Sunday.

"There is a substantial amount of snow on the ground in the northern reaches of the Northeast," Abrams said.

While some of the snow will melt with few problems, where ice breaks loose and then jams up on area streams and rivers, there is greater risk for flooding.

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"The combination of a couple of inches of rainfall and several inches of water locked up in snow and ice can unleash a half a foot of water onto areas along small streams that then feed into rivers," Abrams said.

Flooding along some small streams is likely this weekend, along with significant rises possible in the following days along some of the major rivers including the Susquehanna, Delaware, Chenango, Connecticut, Mohawk, Walloomsac, Merrimack, Kennebec and Penobscot.

Generally the larger the river, the longer it takes for high water to cycle through.

The heaviest rain will pour down through Saturday night across the Northeast, then will be centered along the northern New England coast and southern Nova Scotia on Sunday. However, periods of rain and drizzle will keep the rest of the Northeast dreary on Sunday.

Some snow or a wintry mix will fall over some of the northern tier areas and highest elevations of the central Appalachians with the storm. This precipitation will tend to slow the runoff.

While there will be pockets of ice in the pink mix area, the greatest threat for an icy mix exists across Maine and southern New Brunswick.

Motorists should prepare for hazardous travel, especially where the snow and ice occurs at night and falls heavily during the day.

Slushy areas around the eastern Great Lakes and central Appalachians may also turn icy Saturday night as temperatures dip below freezing.

After the winter storm departs, the thaw will continue, resume or expand across northern New England during the upcoming week, keeping some streams and rivers running high.

Temperatures are forecast to reach the 40s and 50s in the northern tier states of the Northeast next week.