Weekend storm to bring rain, fog and wintry mix to part of northeastern US

The northern edge of a storm unleashing flooding rain in the southeastern United States will bring rain, fog, ice and a wintry mix to parts of the Northeast this weekend.

A general 1-2 inches of rain is forecast with locally higher amounts from the Ohio Valley to parts of the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic coast with lesser rain in store for parts of southern New England and upstate New York into Sunday.

While this rain will not cause flooding along small streams and rivers in general in the Northeast, enough rain will fall to slow travel with minor urban-style flooding likely.

Periods of fog and low cloud ceilings can trigger airline delays at the major hubs of Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Newark, New Jersey. Some flight cancellations are possible at the smaller airports where fog blocks the view of the runway. Foggy episodes will also force some motorists to slow down.

Rain is forecast to spread slowly northward during Saturday.

"The northern edge of the rain may stall close to the Interstate 80 corridor of eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to near New York City, as well as Long Island, New York, for a time Saturday afternoon and evening," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.

In parts of northern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a wintry or icy mix may coat some colder surfaces.

During late Saturday night and Sunday, the rain and a wintry mix are likely to push northward once again into the southern part of New York state and southern and central New England.

Related: Winter storm blasts U.S. Southeast leaving hundreds of thousands without power

Motorists venturing along parts of I-81, I-87, I-88 and I-90 during that time may encounter patches of ice and wet snow for a time during Sunday morning.

With temperatures forecast to hover near or just above the freezing mark in the wintry mix areas, roads that are treated with ice melting compounds should be primarily wet.

"Sunday is the most likely time for the rain and perhaps the wintry mix to reach the swath from Albany, New York, to Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts," Anderson said.

At the same time, periods of rain are likely to continue from Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and New York City on Sunday. Rain is forecast to cross Ohio and move away from part of western Pennsylvania by the evening.

"Farther west on Sunday, as colder air circulates in toward the end of the storm, the ridges in western Pennsylvania, western Maryland and West Virginia are likely to experience a change form rain to wet snow," Anderson said.

A small, slushy accumulation is possible in these areas.

In the wake of the storm, winds will kick up from the northwest later Sunday and Sunday night.

Expect colder and blustery conditions over much of the Northeast on Monday with bands of lake-effect snow likely off lakes Erie and Ontario.

Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert to your forecast and any weather advisories in your area.