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Weekend Weather Preview
March 28, 2024 at 03:03 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Alyssa Robinette
A few weather disturbances will march across the Northern Tier this weekend, but the main weather story will be a potent low pressure system overtaking the West.
Saturday
A weak low pressure system will advance east on Saturday, moving from the Midwest into the Mid-Atlantic. Temperatures will generally be warm enough for rain to fall in the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Timing would be in the morning for the Midwest, throughout the day in the Ohio Valley and the afternoon and evening for the Mid-Atlantic. Colder temperatures, however, will occur in the Great Lakes. The Upper Great Lakes will see a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain, while plain rain falls across the Lower Great Lakes.
Meanwhile, a cold front will move through the Western U.S. as the associated low pressure system drifts closer to the coast. This cold front will extend from the northern High Plains, central Rockies, Great Basin and California. Snow will be found throughout the mountains and higher elevations of these areas throughout the day. Expect heavy to very heavy snow along the Sierra Nevada, while lighter snow is likely elsewhere.
Rain will soak most of California and Desert Southwest along with the lower elevations of the Great Basin. This will be more complicated in the northern and central High Plains. Initially, rain showers will develop in the afternoon, which could then mix with and change to snow in the evening.
High pressure will control the weather for the south-central and southeastern U.S. Expect dry, quiet weather here as a result.
Chilly temperatures will be found throughout most of the West and Northern Tier. Expect mainly 30s and 40s for the Mountains West, northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and the interior Northeast. However, the highest elevations could only see temperatures in the 20s.
Expect 50s and 60s for most of the Northwest and California as well as the southern Rockies, central Plains, Mid-Mississippi Valley, Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Milder 70s and 80s are in store for the rest of the U.S., including the Desert Southwest, southern Plains, Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys and Southeast. A few 90s will also be possible in southern Texas.
Sunday
The weak low pressure system from Saturday will slide across southern New England early on Sunday, before wandering into the Atlantic for the rest of the day. Rain will drench southern portions of the Northeast in the morning, with snow or a rain/snow mix across northern areas.
A new low pressure system will form in the northern half of the Plains and Mississippi Valley in the morning. This system will then head into the Midwest and Ohio Valley during the afternoon and evening. Some snow showers are likely in the northern Plains in the morning, while a mix of snow, rain and freezing rain is in the forecast for the central Plains. Otherwise, expect just rain showers for the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Midwest and Ohio Valley.
East to southeast winds will lead to a persistent onshore flow over the western Gulf Coast. There will be just a slight chance for drizzle or very light showers for the Texas coast and eastern Texas into Louisiana. Any rain would be limited to the late morning through the afternoon.
Not much will change on Sunday across the Western U.S. A large low pressure system inches closer to the California coast, while an elongated cold front stretches from the northern Plains into the Southwest. Like Saturday, rain will occur throughout most of California and Desert Southwest into the lower elevations of the Great Basin and central Rockies. Snow will continue for the mountains and higher elevations of California, the Great Basin and northern/central Rockies, with snow or a rain/snow mix in the northern/central High Plains.
Dry weather sticks around for several areas toward the end of the weekend. This includes the Southeast as well as the Northwest.
Temperatures will be nearly identical to those on Saturday. Expect widespread 30s and 40s for the Mountain West, northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and interior New England. Again, the highest elevations could only record highs in the 20s. Fifties and 60s continue in the Northwest and most of California along with the central Plains, Mid-Mississippi Valley, Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
The Southern Tier remains milder with extensive 70s and 80s, including the Desert Southwest, southern Plains, Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys and Southeast.
Saturday
A weak low pressure system will advance east on Saturday, moving from the Midwest into the Mid-Atlantic. Temperatures will generally be warm enough for rain to fall in the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Timing would be in the morning for the Midwest, throughout the day in the Ohio Valley and the afternoon and evening for the Mid-Atlantic. Colder temperatures, however, will occur in the Great Lakes. The Upper Great Lakes will see a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain, while plain rain falls across the Lower Great Lakes.
Meanwhile, a cold front will move through the Western U.S. as the associated low pressure system drifts closer to the coast. This cold front will extend from the northern High Plains, central Rockies, Great Basin and California. Snow will be found throughout the mountains and higher elevations of these areas throughout the day. Expect heavy to very heavy snow along the Sierra Nevada, while lighter snow is likely elsewhere.
Rain will soak most of California and Desert Southwest along with the lower elevations of the Great Basin. This will be more complicated in the northern and central High Plains. Initially, rain showers will develop in the afternoon, which could then mix with and change to snow in the evening.
High pressure will control the weather for the south-central and southeastern U.S. Expect dry, quiet weather here as a result.
Chilly temperatures will be found throughout most of the West and Northern Tier. Expect mainly 30s and 40s for the Mountains West, northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and the interior Northeast. However, the highest elevations could only see temperatures in the 20s.
Expect 50s and 60s for most of the Northwest and California as well as the southern Rockies, central Plains, Mid-Mississippi Valley, Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Milder 70s and 80s are in store for the rest of the U.S., including the Desert Southwest, southern Plains, Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys and Southeast. A few 90s will also be possible in southern Texas.
Sunday
The weak low pressure system from Saturday will slide across southern New England early on Sunday, before wandering into the Atlantic for the rest of the day. Rain will drench southern portions of the Northeast in the morning, with snow or a rain/snow mix across northern areas.
A new low pressure system will form in the northern half of the Plains and Mississippi Valley in the morning. This system will then head into the Midwest and Ohio Valley during the afternoon and evening. Some snow showers are likely in the northern Plains in the morning, while a mix of snow, rain and freezing rain is in the forecast for the central Plains. Otherwise, expect just rain showers for the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Midwest and Ohio Valley.
East to southeast winds will lead to a persistent onshore flow over the western Gulf Coast. There will be just a slight chance for drizzle or very light showers for the Texas coast and eastern Texas into Louisiana. Any rain would be limited to the late morning through the afternoon.
Not much will change on Sunday across the Western U.S. A large low pressure system inches closer to the California coast, while an elongated cold front stretches from the northern Plains into the Southwest. Like Saturday, rain will occur throughout most of California and Desert Southwest into the lower elevations of the Great Basin and central Rockies. Snow will continue for the mountains and higher elevations of California, the Great Basin and northern/central Rockies, with snow or a rain/snow mix in the northern/central High Plains.
Dry weather sticks around for several areas toward the end of the weekend. This includes the Southeast as well as the Northwest.
Temperatures will be nearly identical to those on Saturday. Expect widespread 30s and 40s for the Mountain West, northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and interior New England. Again, the highest elevations could only record highs in the 20s. Fifties and 60s continue in the Northwest and most of California along with the central Plains, Mid-Mississippi Valley, Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
The Southern Tier remains milder with extensive 70s and 80s, including the Desert Southwest, southern Plains, Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys and Southeast.