Sunday's Weather Outlook

The first day of March will feature wintry weather in the Lower Midwest and parts of the Northeast.

A cold front will become nearly stationary on Sunday, with it being draped from the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Front Range into the central Plains, Mid-Mississippi valleys and Mid-Atlantic. Immediately north of the cold front, Canadian high pressure will expand into the north-central U.S. The combination of cold air from Canada and fast-moving systems moving along the cold front will set the stage for a messy, complex weather pattern for the end of the weekend.

There will be several areas along this cold front that will see soggy, wintry weather. Expect light to moderate snow across the Northeast in the morning and afternoon. A light mix of rain, snow and sleet may also occur in central Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic.

Much of the nation’s midsection will see precipitation in the morning, with a more organized area of precipitation developing in the afternoon and evening. Flurries or light snow will be possible in the morning for the northern half of the Plains, while there will be chances of rain for the southern half.

Towards midday, a more compact area of precipitation will develop in the central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley, which will slowly spread east into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys during the afternoon and evening. As this area becomes more developed, there will be a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain. Depending on the exact track, travel could become difficult due to the snow/sleet and freezing rain chances.

The other area that sees precipitation will be the Northwest, northern California, the Great Basin and the northern Rockies. Like today, temperatures will be warmer than normal, so only the tallest peaks will receive snowfall. Rain will soak all other spots.

Two spots stay out of the active weather pattern for the conclusion of the weekend. Southern California into the Southwest along with much of the Southeast will stay dry. However, a few showers and thunderstorms could linger across much of Florida throughout the day.

Bitter cold teens and 20s will occur throughout the northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and Northeast. Though, a few single digit highs will be scattered across these areas. Thirties and 40s are expected for the Lower Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and northern Mid-Atlantic. 

The Northwest, Rockies and Front Range into the Tennessee Valley and southern Mid-Atlantic will generally record 40s and 50s. Sixties and 70s cover much of California into the central Plains, and Southeast, with 80s and 90s persisting in southern California, the Desert Southwest and much of the southern Plains.