Fall storm to blast Northeast with severe weather, rain and gusty winds ahead of season's coldest temperatures

THE TAKEAWAY

A massive cold front is setting the stage for a weekend of severe storms across the northern U.S., as a low-pressure system and the front usher in days of rain across the Great Lakes, Midwest and Northeast.

Moderate rainfall began across portions of the Midwest and Great Lakes on Thursday, steadily intensifying into potential severe storms overnight.

WHAT IS A COLD FRONT?

As a result, a Level 1 out of 5 severe storm threat is in place, stretching from St. Louis to Cleveland. If storms continue to intensify, the main threat would become damaging wind gusts.

SEVERE STORMS THREATEN NORTHEAST THIS WEEKEND — WHERE WILL THE HEAVIEST RAIN FALL?

Wet weather will continue on Friday as the low-pressure area shifts over southeastern Canada, bringing downpours to cities like Syracuse, New York, Burlington, Vermont, and Bangor, Maine.

The fast-moving storms will bring wind gusts as strong as 30 to 40 mph, especially along the coast of New England.

POWERFUL STORM TO SLAM THE NORTHEAST WITH RAIN, DANGEROUS WINDS BEFORE FIRST MAJOR FALL FREEZE

This trend will continue overnight Friday as the cold front, combined with an area of low pressure, pushes eastward, setting the state up for nasty weather conditions Saturday along the I-95 corridor from Boston to New York City, with heavy precipitation.

As a result, a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat is in place headed into the weekend.

By midday Saturday, wind gusts will decrease to around 20 to 30 mph, allowing drier conditions to return.

Despite this, light precipitation of 0.5 to 1 inch of rain could continue across the Great Lakes to New England and stretch into upstate New York, where totals could be closer to 1 to 2 inches.

ANOTHER COASTAL STORM COULD BE BREWING FOR EAST COAST WITH IMPACTS POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK

The messy weather will also bring cold temperatures, as breezy winds will keep it feeling like a normal fall day.