Weekend Weather Preview
A relatively dry weekend is in store for much of the nation this weekend. Wintry precipitation exits the East Coast, while a wet wintry mix settles into the Pacific Northwest.
Saturday
In the Northeast, a mix of rain and snow will trail off the East Coast from the Great Lakes throughout the day on Saturday. Snow will top the mountainous peaks of the Appalachians but bring cold rain to lowland areas within the Northeast.
The Mid-Atlantic will also see some of this precipitation, with snow mainly sticking to the Appalachians. Most of the precipitation will stick to the mountains in the Mid-Atlantic, leaving Virgina southward with dreary skies throughout the day.
The Southeast and Deep South will remain dry throughout the day on Saturday. Weekend weather plans will not be impacted on Saturday, as wet conditions will not be present.
The Midwest will have similarly dry conditions, with only a small amount of precipitation impacting northern Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula late Saturday night. This precipitation will be light, with minimal accumulation. There should be just enough accumulation to notice a new dusting of snow on cars in the morning on Sunday.
Unfortunately for skiers and snowboarders in the Mountain West, conditions will continue to dry. High pressure will keep the region clear, disappointing many winter sports enthusiasts with the lack of some fresh snow on Saturday.
The Desert Southwest will have dry weather on Saturday too. Sunny skies will allow many outdoor activities to continue in the desert, amid the temperate winter temperatures within the area.
The Pacific Northwest will see another wave of precipitation this Saturday, bringing rain to the valleys and snow to the Cascades. However, this precipitation will be light in nature, not adding a significant amount of snow to the snowpack in the Cascades.
Although low temperatures will continue to chill some of the country, overall higher temperatures will allow for a break from frigid cold. Areas experiencing single-digit temperatures and temperatures within the teens will be the Northeast and Great Lakes.
Coastal Northeastern areas and outer borders of Great Lake surrounding states will see temperatures in the 20s. The higher mountainous peaks within the Rockies will also see these below-freezing temperatures.
Areas seeing temperatures in the 30s this Saturday will include Virginia, North Carolina, the Tennessee Valley, and a stretch of the Midwest through Arkansas, Iowa, and the Dakotas. The foothills of the Rockies should also see temperatures in the 30s.
Much of the country will experience temperatures in the 40s and 50s this Saturday. Northern halves of Southeastern and Deep Southern states will see these temperatures, with this temperature trend following up through the Central and Northern Plains as well.
Much of the West Coast should see these temperature trends as well, with all lowland areas in the West experiencing 40s and 50s as well. The exception to this is the Desert Southwest, where high 60s can be expected
High 60s are expected not only in the Desert Southwest, but also in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Texas, and Oklahoma. It is possible that more arid areas within these regions could hit the low 70s this Saturday.
Sunday
The Northeast will experience a dry end to the weekend, with dry weather conditions present all day on Sunday. High pressure will settle into the area, allowing for clear conditions to beat out any chance of wintry precipitation.
The Southeast and Deep South will experience dry weather conditions as well, allowing for a full weekend of outdoor planning going as planned.
The Midwest will experience dry weather conditions as well, with the only chance of precipitation to begin as flurries in the air around the Great Lakes. Although some flurries are possible, accumulation is unlikely, as conditions will be dry, without a winter storm in sight to ruin Sunday plans.
The Mountain West will also see a dry end to the weekend this Sunday. There will be a bit of snow and rain in the Mountain West among the Northern Rockies. This wintry precipitation will come off precipitation that moved into the Pacific Northwest on Saturday. Snow will stick to higher mountainous peaks, while cold rain will fall into lowland areas.
The Desert Southwest will end the weekend with continued dry weather and ideal weather conditions (for most). Sunny skies will wrap up the weekend, bringing temperate conditions to the area.
The Pacific Northwest will see continued lowland rainfall and Cascade snow on Sunday as moisture moves off the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall will continue throughout the day and extend into the northern half of California.
A similar temperature trend will continue within the country on Sunday as it did Saturday.
Areas experiencing single-digit temperatures and temperatures within the teens will be the Northeast and Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes and northern Mid-Atlantic will see temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s. The higher mountainous peaks within the Rockies will also see these below-freezing temperatures, as the foothills of the Rockies should see temperatures in the 30s.
Areas seeing temperatures in the 40s and low 50s this Saturday will be Virginia, North Carolina, the Tennessee Valley, and a stretch of the Midwest through Arkansas, Iowa, and the Dakotas. Like the eastern half of the Nation, much of the West will experience this temperature trend, except California’s Central Valley through the Desert Southwest.
Northern halves of Southeastern and Deep Southern states will see temperatures in the high 50s into the low 60s, with this temperature trend following up through the Central and Northern Plains as well. California’s Central Valley should also experience these temperature trends.
The Desert Southwest, Deep Southern states, and the lower half of the Southeast should expect temperatures in the high 60s into the low 70s. The Rio Grande Valley will have the highest temperatures within the Continental U.S. this Sunday, with temperatures trending within the high 70s.