Extended Christmas Weekend Weather Outlook

Mother Nature keeps plenty of wet, active weather on both coasts into the start of the weekend. While a quieter pattern is expected for the Central U.S. through Saturday, things will rapidly change by the end of the weekend.

Friday

A wet, soggy and snowy forecast will continue across the West on Friday as the large upper-level weather system remains settled off the coast. Rounds of rain and mountain snow will be found for all areas along and west of the Rockies. Temperatures will be slightly colder compared to Christmas Day, so more of the middle elevations will see more snow than rain. Otherwise, expect rain for the coast and lower elevations, while snow piles up in the mountains.

Moderate to heavy rain will be possible throughout California, especially the Central Valley into southern California. After several days of soaking rain and numerous reports of flooding and mudslides already, concerns for flooding will remain elevated to high, especially near rivers, creeks and streams as well as burn scar, urban, low-lying and other more flood prone areas. If you do approach a flooded roadway, remember it is always best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

Snow will be the heaviest along the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades and the tallest peaks in the northern Rockies. Travel will be difficult, if not impossible, for the highest passes, including on I-80 (Donner Pass), I-90 (Snoqualmie Pass and Lookout Pass) and I-15 (Monida Pass). Be prepared for slick, icy and snow-packed roads, blowing and drifting snow and potential white-out conditions.

Winds will also be howling throughout much of the West. The strongest winds will likely be found across northern California through the Great Basin into the Rocky Mountains and Front Range. With saturated soil, these high winds will likely lead to downed trees and powerlines, so power outages will be a possibility. It stays dry across southeastern Wyoming, but these high winds will still pose a threat to those on I-25 and I-80, especially for light and high-profile vehicles.

Farther east, a potent low pressure will form over the Midwest in the morning, which will dart eastward across the Mid-Atlantic into the Atlantic Ocean during the afternoon and evening. Wintry precipitation will be found along this low pressure system.

Expect light to moderate snow for the Upper Great Lakes in the morning, with a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain for the Lower Great Lakes. The Ohio and Tennessee valleys will generally just see rain, but some light freezing rain or freezing drizzle cannot be ruled out at times. Snow will then spread to western portions of the Northeast and southern New England in the afternoon and evening, while the Mid-Atlantic could see significant accumulations of freezing rain and sleet, especially western Pennsylvania.

Dry weather will remain in the forecast for the nation’s midsection as well as the Southeast.

The Northeast remains cold on Friday, with highs in the teens and 20s. The highest parts of the northern Appalachians could even see temperatures remain in single digits. Expect 30s and 40s for the Mountain West, the northern Plains, Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic. Fifties and 60s will cover California into the Desert Southwest, the central Plains and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Warm 70s and 80s remain across the southern Plains and Southeast.

Saturday

The stationary weather system that has hovered just off the West Coast throughout the week will finally advance eastward on Saturday. Precipitation will slowly taper off and end across the Northwest, Great Basin and California in the afternoon and evening. Expect rain for the lower elevations, a rain/snow mix for the mid-elevations and all snow for the mountains and higher elevations.

However, snow will continue across the Rockies throughout the day and could even intensify across the central and southern Rockies in the evening and overnight. There could even be some snow that spreads to the Front Range and High Plains late Saturday into early Sunday morning.

There will be a developing low pressure system that moves across the north-central U.S. A mix of rain, sleet and freezing rain is possible in the far Upper Mississippi Valley during the morning and afternoon. This wintry mix could continue across the Upper Great Lakes in the evening, while there could be a few showers in the Lower Great Lakes.

The low pressure system impacting the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic will quickly push away on Saturday morning, with high pressure building over the region for the rest of the day. There could be some lingering snow, freezing rain and sleet in the morning. Drier air will then filter in for the rest of the day.

A weak onshore flow could bring a limited amount of moisture into the Gulf Coast and Deep South on Saturday. There will be a slight chance of showers in the afternoon and evening, but generally dry weather will prevail.

Teens and 20s will persist across the Northeast, while the northern Plains and High Plains also generally see teens and 20s. The Rockies in northwestern Montana, however, could only see the mercury climb into single digits, with a few spots staying below zero. The rest of the Mountain West, the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic can expect 30s and 40s. California and the Desert Southwest, the central Plains and Tennessee Valley will report highs in the 50s and 60s, with 70s and a few lower 80s for the southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast.

Sunday

After weakening briefly as it moved over the Rocky Mountains, an upper-level weather system and cold front will strengthen again as it moves across the Central U.S. This will bring precipitation to the central/southern Rockies and Plains, the Midwest, Deep South and even parts of the Mid-Atlantic.

Light to moderate snow will fall in the central/southern Rockies and Colorado Front Range throughout the day. The central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley will generally see rain initially, which could mix with and possibly change over to snow late in the day. Except for some freezing rain in the Alleghenies and Poconos of Pennsylvania, all other locations will see just rain as temperatures will be too warm for any wintry weather.

A few flurries or light snow showers cannot be ruled out in the northern Plains and Upper Mississippi in the wake of this cold front.

After days of soggy, wintry weather, high pressure will finally build over the Western U.S. for the end of the holiday weekend, promoting dry and quiet weather.

Expect temperatures in the 20s and 30s for the Northeast, 40s and 50s for the Mid-Atlantic and 60s and 70s for the Southeast. Across the Western U.S., highs will be in the 20s and 30s for the higher elevations, 40s and 50s for the lower elevations of the Northwest and much of California and 60s in southern California and the Desert Southwest. Though, the tallest peaks in the Rockies could only see highs in single digits and teens.

Things get more complicated for the nation’s midsection given this potent cold front moving through. Highs will occur early in the day for the northern and central Plains, the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes, with temperatures falling for the rest of the day. High temperatures will be in the single digits, teens and 20s for the northern Plains, before falling. Expect 30s and 40s for the central Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes early in the day, then temperatures plummet. The southern Plains and Lower Midwest will report 50s and 60s early. Much of Texas (excluding the panhandle) and the Lower Mississippi Valley see a normal pattern, with temperatures peaking in the 70s and 80s during the afternoon.