Weekend Weather Preview

A major storm system causes plenty of trouble across the eastern two-thirds of the nation this weekend, bringing everything from snow to severe weather. Parts of the West will also see an active weekend.

Saturday
A large upper-level weather system will be centered over the Central U.S. for the start of the weekend. An associated cold front will also move into the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Deep South.

Along the cold front, rain showers and thunderstorms are likely throughout much of the day for the Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley and Deep South. A multi-day severe weather outbreak will continue on Saturday, with the target occurring from the Deep South into the Ohio Valley. If you live in these areas, be prepared for heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail and potentially a few strong tornadoes.

Immediately behind the cold front, temperatures will be significantly colder, leading to wintry precipitation. The northern Plains will likely see snow or a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Rain will soak the Upper Mississippi Valley early in the day, which will then mix with and change over to snow in the afternoon and evening. Some freezing rain cannot be ruled out.

Northwesterly winds along the western fringes of this upper-level weather system could transport some moisture into the Rockies. Occasional flurries or light snow showers will be found throughout the day.

Meanwhile, a Pacific storm system will be settled just off the Northwest coast. This will transport moisture into the region as a result. Expect moderate to briefly heavy rain across western Washington, western Oregon and northwestern California. The Cascades will pick up light to moderate snow, while there will likely be a rain/snow mix for the interior Northwest.

A few areas stay quiet for the start of the weekend. This includes southern California into the Desert Southwest, the southern Plains and most of the Eastern Seaboard.

The far northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley and the tallest Rocky Mountain peaks will have the coldest temperatures, with highs only in the teens and 20s! Most of the Mountain west into the rest of the northern Plains as well as eastern New England will have temperatures peak in the 30s and 40s.

Expect milder 50s and 60s for most of California into the Desert Southwest, central Plains, Midwest and the rest of the Northeast. Seventies will be widespread across the southern Plains, Deep South, Southeast, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, with 80s for Texas and Florida.
 
Sunday
The large weather system from Saturday will continue its easterly trek across the U.S. on Sunday. This system and cold front will push across the Eastern U.S. into the Atlantic Ocean.

Expect rain and thunderstorms for the Ohio and Tennessee valleys into the Eastern Seaboard. The timing will generally be morning and afternoon for the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, then the afternoon and evening for the East Coast. The multi-day severe weather outbreak will finally conclude on Sunday, but not before creating dangerous thunderstorms along the East Coast from Florida to New England. Like Saturday, people within this area should prepare for heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail and perhaps a few strong tornadoes.

There will be some lingering moisture from this system over the Great Lakes and Midwest. With a chilly air mass in place, expect wet snow or a rain/snow mix in these areas during the morning.

On the opposite side of the country, the same Pacific storm system will sit just off the coast of the Northwest on Sunday. The storm system will continue to funnel tropical moisture into the Northwest as well as northern California and the northern Rockies.

Most areas will see precipitation in the form of rain to conclude the weekend. The highest elevations, however, will see moderate to heavy snow. There could even be some light freezing rain that mixes in at times.

High pressure will expand over the Four Corners states, leading to dry weather for southern California into the Desert Southwest, the central/southern Rockies and most of the Plains and Mississippi Valley.

Expect teens and 20s for a few areas in the north-central U.S. Otherwise, most of the Mountain West, northern Plains, Great Lakes and Upper Midwest will see temperatures reach the 30s and 40s. There will be mainly 50s and 60s across California, the central Plains, Deep South, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Seventies and 80s will cover the Desert Southwest, southern Plains and the Southeast.