New England sees a break in the showery weather for about a day and a half before Debby’s moisture spreads showers, rain, downpours and thunder back into the region. Debby’s forecast track has shifted west slightly, which takes the axis of heaviest rain with it, but Matt Noyes explains that still leaves Vermont in the crosshairs for greatest risk of flooding, just like you’d heard in our Insights yesterday. All the updated details in the video.
In the past 24 hours, southern New England has seen most of the rainfall, with totals ranging from one to two inches over the last two days. We initially predicted a five-day rain total of three to five inches, and it looks like we’ll be closer to the three-inch mark. Expect more rain focused in Western New England and upstate New York due to a westward shift in Tropical System Debby’s track.
Debby is moving northward, set to cross the Appalachian Mountains and head towards upstate New York and Northwestern New England. This westward shift increases the chance of flash flooding in upstate New York and the chance remains elevated in Vermont, as mentioned here yesterday, focused particularly on Friday into Friday night. Flash flooding is likely in parts of Vermont
The main concern over the next few days will be the potential for flash flooding, particularly in upstate New York and Vermont. As Debby moves northward, the frontal boundary slows down, allowing for prolonged periods of heavy rain. This setup is conducive to “training” thunderstorms, where one storm follows right after another over the same area, leading to excessive rainfall in a short period. This scenario poses a significant risk of flash flooding, especially Thursday night into Friday. While Vermont remains the primary area of concern, flash flooding is also possible in other parts of Northern New England.
Debby’s wind strength will diminish as it moves inland, but we could still see gusts up to 39 mph or greater, particularly in Southern Connecticut, Southern Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, and the coast of Maine. These gusts are expected overnight Friday into early Saturday.
Saturday will start with rain and gusty winds, particularly in the morning, but conditions should improve by the afternoon. By Sunday, expect much better weather with significantly lower humidity as Canadian air moves in. Dew points will drop to the 50s, bringing more comfortable conditions into early next week.
For continuous updates, download our Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside app from the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app provides interactive radar, weather alerts, and a 14-day forecast for your exact location. Stay informed and stay safe!
