…Severe Thunderstorms possible over parts of the Great Plains and
Mississippi Valley this weekend…
…Winter Storm to develop over the Front Range; High Winds impact Four
Corners tonight into Great Plains this weekend…
…Critical Fire Weather Risk over Central/Southern High Plains…
…Warm weekend ahead for Central U.S.; East and West Coasts remain below
average…
An omega pattern aloft will support impactful weather across the Central
U.S. this weekend. Tonight, snow showers are expected to continue from the
Central Appalachians up through the Lower Great Lakes and interior
Northeast/New England. Additional snow accumulations of 3-6 inches are
possible for those areas before the surface low departs from Downeast
Maine and things begin to clear up Saturday evening. High temperatures
will remain below average across the East Coast thanks to the cloudiness,
but should begin to rebound by early next week.
Out West, general troughing will keep temperatures below average this
weekend and into early next week. High winds will continue over the Four
Corners region tonight before spreading into the Great Plains on Saturday.
High Wind Watches and Warnings are in effect for portions of the
aforementioned areas through Sunday. A pronounced ridge will support
warmer than average temperatures across the Great Plains and Mississippi
Valley this weekend.
Meanwhile, a potent closed upper-level low over the Intermountain West and
Rockies will support the development of a dynamic and powerful surface
mid-latitude cyclone over the High Plains beginning tonight. This system
will be responsible for the high winds over the Plains as well as Critical
Fire Weather conditions across much of the Central/Southern High Plains
over the next few days. A winter storm is likely to develop over the Front
Range and parts of the Central Rockies on Saturday. Heavy Snow and strong
winds will make travel very difficult with whiteout conditions possible,
particularly on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Anywhere between 6-12
inches of snow are possible with 1-2 feet more likely at higher elevations
(Big Horns, Shirley, Laramie Mountains).
In the warm sector of this system, scattered rain showers and
thunderstorms will develop. Storms will begin Saturday afternoon over the
Northern/Central Plains on Saturday afternoon then spread into the
Middle/Lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday. There’s a Slight Risk of Severe
Thunderstorms over the Central Plains on Saturday as a result. The severe
threat shifts into the Midwest, Tennessee Valley and Middle/Lower
Mississippi Valley on Sunday.
Kebede
Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php