From Thursday to Saturday, wet and milder weather will continue to expand into the eastern third of the nation. The combination of melting snow, moderate to heavy rain and the potential for ice jams will lead to rises along rivers and streams in many communities from southeastern New England to the Ohio Valley, the Appalachians, and the mid-Atlantic coast.

In some areas, these rivers and streams may overflow their banks into surrounding farmlands, neighborhoods, and onto nearby roadways.

Several inches of water are locked up in the snow on the ground across a good part of the Northeast and the Appalachians. The best case scenario this week is that the snow melts away slowly enough for rivers and streams to handle the increase in water. However, with the big storm moving east and threatening the rainfall, AccuWeather.com meteorologists will continue to closely monitor the situation this week.

Keep checking back for the latest thinking on this threat here at AccuWeather.com.

Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.