A storm system moving into the eastern states this week will bring a mix of wet, windy and snowy weather conditions depending on where you live. Heavy rain could trigger localized flooding, and a rush of cool air following the storm will set the stage for a return of lake snow.

Estimate the timing of rain and snowfall

• Monday – Monday evening: An initial wave of moisture along the warm front of this frontal system will displace most disruptive rainfall across much of the East as snow falls across northern New England and northern New York.
• Tuesday – Tuesday evening: The Interstate 95 corridor should remain dry, but interior areas will see rain as a cold front low pressure approach.
• Wednesday – Wednesday evening: The heaviest rain of this constellation will unfold along the northeast coast ahead of the cold front during this period and could be accompanied by gusty winds. Cold air moving behind the system could turn the inland rain into a brief period of snow as lake-effect snow develops in the Great Lakes snow belts.

The general timing of rain and snow can be found in the maps below.

Where fear of flooding is greatest

• We expect much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to experience the heaviest rain Wednesday and Wednesday evening. That will help drought-stricken areas, but too much too quickly could trigger flooding.
• The greatest chance of at least localized flooding is from Long Island to eastern New England.
• Heavy rain falling on wet ground and melting snow on the ground are the ingredients that make New England more vulnerable to possible flooding.

How much rain and snow can we expect?

• Much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast could see at least an inch of rainfall under this setup. Up to 3 inches may be visible in parts of the New York Tri-State area and New England. The heavy rain in northern New England is preceded by snowfall, so the map below shows no rain in these areas yet.
• While some snow will accumulate on Wednesday and Wednesday evening, which could impact interior areas of the Northeast as colder air arrives, the highest totals will be from lake snow. Some Great Lakes snowbelts could receive 6 to 12 inches of snow Wednesday through Thursday.

Chris Dolce has been a senior meteorologist at Weather.com for over 10 years, having started his career at The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.