Weekend Weather Preview

Incessant rainfall over the nation's midsection finally shifts eastward on Sunday, but not before making a final hurrah of calamitous weather in the Mid-South. 

Saturday 
On Saturday, severe storms and extreme rainfall continue their nearly week-long deluge over the Mississippi and Ohio valleys on Saturday under a stubborn frontal system. Tornadoes, large hail, and significant wind events are all on the table again, with a second high risk for excessive rainfall and subsequent flooding this week issued for the Mid-Mississippi Valley.

Additional thunderstorms will draw north of the Ohio Valley, and the Mid-Atlantic through southern New England are set for heavy showers after dawn. Initially in Maine, light snow showers take the helm, but they will transition into a wintry mix and then pure rain as the day heats up. 

More snow will come earlier on Saturday for the southern High Plains and Front Range of all places, as freezing air continues its southward plunge from Canada. Expect hefty snow totals, some exceeding even a foot, in the region amidst strong wind gusts, with lighter accumulations actually occurring in the mountains. 

Otherwise, the rest of the West and the Southeast experience a pleasantly dry start to the weekend. 

As for Saturday's highs, 70s and 80s continue to heat the Gulf Coast and the Southeast, with 90s swelling in Florida. Sixties and 70s warm the Pacific Coast and Southwest, along with Appalachia and the Lower Mid-Atlantic. Fifties and 40s moderate most of the Great Plains, the Midwest, the Upper Mid-Atlantic, and the Intermountain West, while 30s and 20s continue to cool New England, the far Upper Midwest, the southern High Plains, and the Rocky Front Range. 

Sunday
Multiple cold fronts wreak havoc across both coasts on Sunday, while largely dry weather awaits much of the nation’s midsection.

One cold front will march south and east across the Eastern U.S. for the conclusion of the weekend. There will also be a second reinforcing cold front that drops south through the Great Lakes.

Precipitation will be found from the Northeast and the Ohio Valley into the Lower Midwest, central Plains and Deep South in the morning, with the focus of precipitation shifting to the entire East Coast during the afternoon and evening. Most areas will experience rain showers and thunderstorms. There will be a chance of heavy rain and flooding as well as severe weather, especially in the Deep South and Southeast. Within thunderstorms, be prepared for damaging winds, large hail and perhaps a tornado or two.

Wintry precipitation, however, will be found in a few areas. Snow or a rain/snow mix will occur in the central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley in the morning, then there will likely be a mix of rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain for parts of the Upper Midwest and Ohio Valley during the afternoon and evening. Interior portions of the Northeast could see a wintry mix throughout much of the day, while snow moves into the Great Lakes late Sunday night.

On the opposite side of the nation, a Pacific storm system and associated cold front will invade the Northwest. Rain showers will become increasingly likely from west-to-east on Sunday for the Northwest and northern California. Temperatures will be cold enough for wet snow or a rain/snow mix throughout the Cascades into the northern Sierra Nevada.

Most of the Plains into the Rockies, Great Basin and Desert Southwest will remain dry under high pressure.

Thirties and 40s will be in the forecast for the Rockies, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast. Though, the tallest parts of the Mountain West could only see temperatures reach the 20s! The Northwest and Great Basin into most of the Plains, Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys and most of the Mid-Atlantic can expect upper 40s, 50s and 60s. Expect a few 70s for far southern Texas, while 70s and 80s will dominate California into the Desert Southwest along with most of the Southeast. There will even be widespread 90s in southeastern Georgia and Florida.