Thursday's Weather Outlook

An Eastern U.S. rainmaker exits the coast as persistent valley rain and mountain snow continues for the Pacific Northwest. 

A low-pressure system will move through the Southeast early in the day. Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms are likely from Florida into southern Virginia. Damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding are the main threats.  

Further to the north, rain will fall in the morning for the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. As the back side of the system swings through, temperatures may fall close to freezing for a switch to wet snow. A coating to 2 inches is possible in the higher terrain of West Virginia, western Virginia, and southern New York. Elsewhere, a coating of snow is all that is likely. 

Valley rain and mountain snow is anticipated for the Pacific Northwest. The continued slug of moisture off the Pacific Ocean provides the ingredients for rounds of precipitation. Over an inch of rainfall is possible for northwest Oregon and western Washington. Moderate to heavy snow will fall on the northern Cascades, while the Rocky Mountains of northern Idaho and western Montana. 

A low-pressure system will form in the northern Plains and bring rain on the southern side and snow on the northern side. Accumulating snow is anticipated for northeast North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A cold rain is all that is expected elsewhere on the southern side of this system. 

High pressure is in place across much of the Great Basin, southern Rockies, Four Corners, central to southern West Coast, and Desert Southwest. The central to southern Plains and Mid-South will also see dry conditions. 

High temperatures in the 20s and 30s are anticipated for the high terrains of the northern Rockies and northern Cascades. More 20s and 30s, and even 40s are likely for the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Northeast. Forties and 50s are likely for the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, Lower Midwest, and lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest. 

Warmer weather is expected for the Great Basin, Southeast, Four Corners, Mid-South, and southern Plains with 50s and 60s. Sixties and 70s are in the forecast for the central Plains, Deep South, southern California, and Panhandle of Florida. Hot 80s and 90s are in store for southern Florida, and the Desert Southwest.