Weekend Weather Preview

A pesky cold front and menacing low pressure system will be the main weather worries this weekend, bringing a wide variety of impacts to the U.S.

Saturday

An elongated cold front will be draped from the Ohio and Tennessee valleys into the southern Plains on Saturday. This cold front will force moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward, resulting in rounds of rain and thunderstorms.

There could be some showers and thunderstorms in the Midwest early in the day. However, the main focus of rain and storms will be found across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, Deep South and southern Plains throughout the day. Rain and storms will also spread to the Mid-Atlantic late morning into the afternoon and then the Northeast in the afternoon and evening.

While there could be some gusty winds within thunderstorms, the main concern along this cold front will be repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches will be possible, which could lead to flooding. Remember, if you approach a flooded roadway, it is always best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

Meanwhile, an area of low pressure will be drifting across the Southwest for the start of the weekend. This will bring in moisture to not only the Southwest, but also the central/southern Rockies and High Plains. The result will be light to moderate snow across the Rockies, Front Range of Colorado and the central Plains. Rain or a rain/snow mix will fall in the lower elevations of the Southwest and southern Plains.

For any areas with snow, plan on slippery and snow-packed roads, especially over the tallest peaks and passes of the Rockies. Visibility will also be reduced given snowfall rates and the potential for blowing snow.

A few areas will be free of weather concerns thanks to high pressure. This includes the West Coast, Great Basin, northern Rockies and northern Plains.

Expect temperatures to peak in the 20s and 30s across the Mountain West, northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley, though the tallest peaks of the Rockies could only see temperatures in the teens. The rest of the western U.S. will have highs in the 40s and 50s, with a few lower 60s in California and the Desert Southwest. Forties and 50s will be found across the central Plains, with 60s and 70s in the southern Plains.

Temperatures should reach the 30s and 40s across the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Midwest, Great Lakes and interior Northeast. Fifties and 60s will be widespread throughout the eastern half of the U.S., with 70s for the Gulf Coast and Southeast.
 
Sunday

A cold front will slowly drift across the Southeast Sunday. A strengthening low pressure system will be following not too far behind this cold front, moving through the south-central U.S.

Frequent rain showers and thunderstorms will be in the forecast for most of Texas and eastern Oklahoma into the Deep South and Southeast throughout the day. Repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain will continue to be a concern, especially along the Gulf Coast. There will also be a chance for strong to severe thunderstorms. The main threats would be damaging winds and a few tornadoes, but some large hail cannot be ruled out.

Temperatures will be noticeably colder across eastern Colorado, western Kansas and New Mexico into the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. Here, precipitation will fall in the form of snow. There will be a period of heavy to very heavy snow across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles starting mid to late morning and continuing into the early evening. Otherwise, expect mainly light to moderate snowfall.

Dangerous to near impossible travel conditions will be likely in areas that see heavy to very heavy snow. This will be due to snowy, icy roads and lowered visibility both due to high snowfall rates and blowing snow. Any other areas that see snow for the end of the weekend could also deal with some travel concerns.

A new Pacific storm system will crash into the Northwest on Sunday. Rain will soak the coast and lower elevations of the Northwest throughout the day, while snow falls in the mountains and higher elevations. Light snow could also spread to the northern Rockies in the afternoon and evening.

Expect a quiet day of weather across California and the Great Basin thanks to high pressure overhead. It should also stay dry across the northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Northeast.

Sunday’s temperatures will be very similar to the highs on Saturday. There will be teens in the highest elevations of the Rockies, with 20s, 30s and 40s for the rest of the Mountain West, most of the Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast. The West Coast and the Southwest into the southern Plains, Deep South, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic will experience 50s, 60s and 70s. A few spots in Florida could also see the mercury climb into the 80s!