A wedge of dry air from Canada will allow areas from northern Marylandnorthward through New England to begin the weekend on a dry note. However,moisture lurking farther south in the mid-Atlantic and to the west around theGreat Lakes and Plains will converge to spoil this afternoon into part ofSunday.A new round of showers and thunderstorms will spread over the Northeasttoday. Thunderstorms could turn severe west of the mid-Atlantic's Interstate 95corridor during the afternoon hours. Charleston, Roanoke, Pittsburgh,Harrisburg, Rochester and Albany outline this threat zone.
While a downpour could occur anytime during the events at Pimlico today, thebest opportunity for a drenching, gusty thunderstorm may coincide with thelate-day running of the 134th Preakness Stakes.
Amidst the somewhat humid conditions with spotty showers, the sun can peekout at times. Afternoon sunshine could enhance the late-day thunderstormactivity. Thunderstorms, with the risk of prolonged downpours, will be mostnumerous throughout the Interstate 95 corridor cities tonight as a cold frontslowly crosses the region.
The weather leading up to stage two of the Triple Crown has been drier thanwhat was experienced prior to this year's Kentucky Derby. Rain that fell onThursday in the Baltimore area ranged from 0.10 of an inch to 1.00 inch. Ashower is not out of the question through the midafternoon today, but much ofthe time should be rain-free during that period.
An untimely downpour, however, during or shortly before the Preakness racecould again favor the mudders.
Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
