Northeast Cold Blast Follows Weekend Rain

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

Mar 23, 2012; 3:10 PM ET

A storm finally moving out of the Plains will deliver some rain to the Northeast this weekend. However, a quick blast of cold air follows the storm with a freeze and frost.
The same storm responsible for flash flooding in the South Central states this week is picking up speed and will pass through the Eastern states this weekend.
While the bulk of the rain will be left in the Ohio Valley and South, some drenching downpours will reach into the mid-Atlantic Saturday into Sunday. Some lesser pockets of rain can reach into portions of New England as the weekend progresses.

The rain will come at a time when many have had little time to enjoy the record-breaking warmth from the past week.

However, folks who have been planting flowers and vegetables this week will want to take notice of a major freeze potential on the way Monday night.
Temperatures forecast to be more than 50 degrees lower early next week, compared to the 80-degree temperatures experienced of late, will be a big shock in itself.
AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures in some locations could be as much as 70 degrees lower Monday night, compared to the afternoons of this past week.
Some locations will have calm conditions and a frost. Others will have below-freezing temperatures and wind that can cause great damage to tender plants.
MORE INFORMATION: Freeze Potential High for the Northeast
Nurseries and garden centers that have racks of plants outdoors may want to move them indoors.

Northeast Cold Blast Follows Weekend Rain