The normal movement of a cold front across North America is from northwest tosoutheast. There are those, however, that come in from the northeast or east.In the meteorological world, these are known as backdoor fronts.
In the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, these backdoor fronts are notoriousfor bringing dramatic changes in the weather. One day will be sunny with highsin the 80s, then the next is rainy with temperatures failing to leave the50s.
One of these so-called backdoor cold fronts will be crossing the Northeast andmoving into the central Atlantic region during the next 48 hours. Ahead of thefront Thursday, severe thunderstorms will erupt from upstate New York toMaryland. On Friday, the front will be farther along with showers andthunderstorms persisting from Pennsylvania to the Carolinas.
The temperature change with this front won't be quite as dramatic as it is withsome backdoor fronts, yet there will be a noticeable drop from one day to thenext. In Philadelphia, for instance, it will be close to 90 Thursday afternoon,but it will never leave the 60s on Friday.
This significant lowering of the temperature will occur as far south as NorthCarolina on Saturday.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.
