Weekend Weather Preview

Dry spots will be few and far between this weekend as multiple weather systems wreak havoc on much of the U.S.

Saturday

A low pressure system will drift across southeastern Canada for the start of the weekend. This will also drag a cold front across the northern half of the Plains and Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and Northeast. Wintry weather will be found close to the low pressure system as well as the cold front.

A few flurries will be possible across the interior Northeast during the morning and afternoon. Little to no snow accumulation is expected here. Meanwhile, light to moderate snow will fall in the northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley for much of Saturday. Snow will also spread to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures could even be warm enough for rain or a rain/snow mix in the Lower Midwest.

Generally light accumulations of 1 to 3 inches will pile up in the path of the snow. However, this could be just enough to make roads slick and icy, especially in the northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes. If you plan on traveling across the north-central U.S., make sure to allow for extra time to get to your destination and slower speeds will be advised where roads become slippery.

At the same time, an upper-level weather system will wander over the Southeast. Rain showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will be in the forecast throughout Saturday. The best chance for rain will be in the eastern Carolinas, southern Georgia and both the Florida Panhandle and Florida Peninsula.

On the opposite side of the nation, a fast-moving weather disturbance will move into the Northwest and northern California. Good news for anyone traveling this weekend, bad news for the snowpack and ski resorts… Temperatures will be unseasonably mild, which will limit snow to the highest peaks. Rain will be the predominant precipitation type elsewhere.

A few showers cannot be ruled out in far southern Texas due to a weak onshore breeze. The rest of the central and southern Plains will stay dry. Southern California into the Four Corners states as well as the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys into the Mid-Atlantic will also see a quiet start to the weekend.

There will be a wide range of temperatures on Saturday. High temperatures will only be in single digits and teens for eastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, much of Minnesota and the Upper Great Lakes. There could even be a few spots that remain below zero closer to the U.S.-Canadian border. Expect 20s and 30s for the rest of the Lower Midwest into the interior Northeast. Expect 40s and 50s for the rest of the Northern Tier.

Milder 60s and 70s dominate the Southern Tier on Saturday. Isolated 80s are possible across Florida, while 80s and 90s are widespread across southern California into the Desert Southwest and the southern Plains.

Sunday

The cold front from Saturday 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 mix of rain, snow and sleet could also occur in central Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic.

Much of the nation’s midsection will see precipitation on Sunday 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 Saturday, 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 could linger across the Florida Peninsula 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.