…Powerful Pacific storm to bring much colder temperatures and widespread
mountain snow throughout the Intermountain West and Rockies over the next
few days…
…Heavy rain and scattered flash flooding possible for portions of the
central/southern High Plains on Saturday…
…Cooler temperatures continue to bring areas of Frost/Freeze potential
over the eastern half of the country Friday morning…
…Above average temperatures and gusty winds forecast across the central
and northern Plains today, expanding across the northern tier of the
country into the weekend…
A powerful Pacific storm system continues to make its way through the
Intermountain West today bringing showers and thunderstorms, heavy
mountain snow, gusty winds, and much cooler temperatures. Heavy snowfall
totals of 4-8″, locally 12″+, are expected over the next couple of days
for higher elevations of areal mountain ranges in the northern Rockies
south through the Great Basin and into the Four Corners region. Strong,
gusty winds on the order of 30-40 mph, locally 50 mph, can also be
expected particularly along a cold front dropping southward through
southern California and into portions of the Southwest. Temperatures are
well below average, especially across the Great Basin and into the
Southwest. Forecast highs on Friday are mainly in the 40s and 50s across
the Intermountain West, with 60s to low 80s for Desert locations in the
Southwest. Morning lows will drop into the 20s and 30s for much of the
region outside of the Desert Southwest, especially across the Great Basin
and into lower elevations of the northern Rockies. Many valley locations
are covered with either Freeze or Hard Freeze Warnings as these frigid
temperatures could kill/damage crops and may freeze external pipes.
Further east, deep southerly flow on the east of the system will bring
very anomalous moisture northward over portions of the central and
southern High Plains, leading to widespread storms producing efficient
heavy rainfall on Saturday. A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall (level
2/4) is in effect as totals of 2-4″+ could lead to some flash flooding
despite dry antecedent conditions. Elsewhere, another system approaching
the Pacific Northwest on Friday will begin to bring moist, Pacific flow
inland along upslope portions of the Olympics and northern Cascades,
leading to periods of heavier rainfall that may lead to some isolated
flooding concerns.
Temperature-wise, highs remain below average across much of the eastern
U.S. in the wake of a strong cold front passage earlier this week, only
rising into the 50s to the north and 60s to the south. Morning lows on
Friday will once again drop into the 30s across the interior Northeast
south through the Appalachians/Ohio Valley and even as far south as the
Tennessee Valley. Frost Advisories are in place across much of the region,
with some Freeze Warnings into the central Appalachians and Upper Ohio
Valley. Conditions have moderated to the northwest over the Plains as
southerly flow increases ahead of the Pacific system. This has resulted in
widespread much above average temperatures into the 70s and low 80s,
especially for the northern Plains into the Upper Midwest, accompanied by
some gusty winds. Widespread Red Flag Warnings as well as a Critical Risk
of Fire Weather from the Storm Prediction Center (level 2/3) remain in
effect Thursday afternoon as the combination of these warmer temperatures
and winds along with dry conditions will bring a threat of wildfires.
Temperatures will remain well above average and in the upper 60s to low
70s for the Upper Midwest southwest through the central Plains Friday
while an incoming cold front will bring much cooler Fall temperatures to
the northern Plains, as highs drop back into the 40s and 50s. Temperatures
overall will moderate throughout the eastern U.S. and especially along the
northern tier of the country on Saturday making for a pleasant start to
the weekend. Forecast highs in the 60s and low 70s will stretch from New
England and the Northeast west through the Midwest, northern
Plains/Rockies, and into the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures will return
into the 70s for the South as well.
Putnam
Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php
