Mud watch in effect, as workweek looks soggy, frisky
Rains should once and for all rout drought watches; "significant" river flooding possible.
As recently as Thursday, rainfall for the year was running about 2.5 inches, or a good 25 percent, below normal.
The downpours that continued into Friday night have cut the 2017 deficit in half, but for the six-month period, the deficits remain in the 20- to 25-percent range, and technically New Jersey and Pennsylvania still have drought watches in effect.
If they survive the week, those computer models should go looking for a day job.
Generous rains are expected Monday night into Tuesday, with up to 1.25 inches possible, according to the National Weather Service.
And right now, Thursday is looking like the friskier day. The weather service says localized downpours are possible, along with the threat for severe weather, as in wind gusts toward 60 mph.
Right now, the ground already is saturated and that and high winds are a recipe for trees getting blown down.
Chances are excellent that come the weekend, it will be too boggy for yard work (and who says rain is all bad?).
As for the flood potential, downpours are always wild cards, and saturated ground is a great promoter of runoff.
The National Weather Service says "significant river flooding" is at least possible by the end of the work week.
On the plus side, however, the region's waterways on both sides of the Delaware remain at reasonably low levels, according to the latest data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
But that can change quickly, especially when runoff turns the streams to mocha.