…Significant pattern change begins today across the Pacific Northwest
and Intermountain West with much colder temperatures and the threat of
widespread mountain snow through the end of the week…
…Above average temperatures build across the central and northern High
Plains with the risk of fire weather increasing through Thursday…
…A chilly mid-October continues for much of the East with frost and
freeze concerns from the central U.S. to parts of the Southeast and
Appalachians…
After some early fall warmth experienced throughout much of the West and
Rockies over the last few days vastly different weather conditions are
expected through the end of this week. A pair of cold fronts traversing
the region are expected to usher in below average temperatures and
precipitation chances. Showers are already evident throughout much of the
Northwest early this morning and will continue to spread eastward today,
before heavier precipitation focuses over the northern/central Rockies and
the Intermountain West from Thursday night through early Saturday. The
greatest weather hazards associated with this strong cold front are
forecast to be from gusty winds and heavy mountain snowfall. Total
snowfall accumulation over 8 inches are likely across the highest ranges
of south-central Montana, western Wyoming, Utah, and southwest Colorado.
Gusty winds may increase the fire weather danger as well and has prompted
Red Flag Warnings to be issued across parts of central California, Nevada,
and western Utah.
Fire weather concerns are also apparent over the central and northern
Plains for the next few days as strong southerly flow surges ahead of the
western U.S. system. Above average temperatures with highs into the 70s
and 80s will produce low relative humidity values and increase wildfire
dangers. This has prompted the Storm Prediction Center to issue a Critical
fire weather area for this region through Thursday, spanning from Kansas
to South Dakota. Elsewhere, Red Flag Warnings are in effect throughout the
central Gulf Coast as strong northerly winds push dry air into the region
behind a potent cold front sweeping southward over the Gulf of Mexico.
This same cold front has helped an autumn chill settle over most of the
central and eastern United States, while a potent high pressure system
also anchors over the region. Low temperatures into the 30s and 40s are
forecast to be widespread and stretch from the Midwest and Northeast
southward to the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. This may create
the first frost and freeze concerns of the season for many, marking the
transition out of the growing season. High temperatures will also remain
below average for this time of year and remain in the 50s and 60s before
moderating closer to normal by the end of the week.
Snell
Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php
