Weekend Weather Preview

This weekend an active weather pattern will feature wet and stormy conditions across much of the country.

Saturday

Soaking rainfall will slowly move through the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, and southern half of the Northeast. There could even be a thunderstorm or two. Most will see less than a half an inch but some areas in the northern Mid-Atlantic and southern to central Appalachians, and western New York could see close to an inch of rain. Further to the south, a few heavy rain showers may bring much-needed rain to the Tennessee Valley and western sections of the Southeast. The Atlantic Coast of the Southeast will remain mostly dry besides the southern half of Florida.

The first day of many, thunderstorms will impact the southern and central Plains on Saturday. Strong thunderstorm ingredients will be in place for all severe weather hazards in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. These potentially dangerous storms will include damaging wind gusts, large to very large hail, and tornadoes.

To the west, a developing disturbance will bring rain showers, periods of heavy rain, and high terrain snowfall. Shower activity will be prevalent in the central to southern Mountain West including the Great Basin and Four Corners. Steadier precipitation will stick to the Sierra Nevada, California's Central Valley, and central to southern West Coast. Primarily on mountaintops, accumulating snowfall will stick within the Sierra Nevada. The central and southern Rockies may also see pockets of snowfall on their peaks.

It will be primarily dry and chilly in the northern half of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. The southern half will experience spotty rain/snow showers depending on elevation.

Only a few spots across the contiguous U.S. will experience drier weather. The Upper Midwest, northern Plains, and High Plains of Texas and New Mexico will be dry.

High temperatures in 20s and 30s will be present in the Sierra Nevada, high terrain of the central to northern Rockies, and lowlands of Montana and Idaho. Forties and 50s will be felt in the northern Plains, Pacific Northwest, and Northeast. A mix of 50s and 60s will belong to the northern Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest, Great Basin, central to southern West Coast, and central to southern Appalachians.

Warmer temperatures in the 60s and 70s will be brought to the Lower Midwest, Ohio Valley, central Plains, and Four Corners. The southern Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Mid-South, southern Plains, and Desert Southwest will feel 70s and 80s. Highs in the 90s will be possible for much of western and southern Texas!

Sunday

A strong low-pressure system will form east of Rockies and provide significant weather impacts to much of the Mountain West and Central U.S.

This system will result in setting up another dangerous thunderstorm environment for eastern halves of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The main threats will include damaging wind gusts, large to very hail, and tornadoes, a few of which may be strong. As these storms form and travel eastward into Missouri, Iowa, and Arkansas, similar threats will follow. There is uncertainty in when and where storms will form, but either way severe weather plans will need to be made.

Much needed rain and snow will be brought with this low-pressure system for the Mountain West. Showers and periods of steady rainfall will be found from California to Colorado. Rain amounts will not total up to more than 0.5 inches for many, but western Colorado and northern Utah may eclipse that value. High terrain snowfall will occur for much of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, southern Idaho, and Nevada.

Lastly, this system will bring a mix of heavy rainfall and snow to parts of the central and northern Plains including western South Dakota, southeast Montana, and eastern Wyoming. On the other hand, soaking rainfall will occur for much of South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa.

A different disturbance will bring periods of rain to the southern half of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Light to moderate rainfall totals may ruin some weekend plans, but for may the rain will move out by the afternoon. To the south, scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will move through the eastern half of the Southeast. This activity is not expected to bring significant drought relief but may help to get the process started.

Being in between systems, the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Mid-South, and Deep South will be dry and warm. Other mostly dry locations include the northwestern section of the Pacific Northwest as well as the Desert Southwest.

Highs in the 20s and 30s will be prevalent in the central to northern Rockies in the high terrain and in portions of the lowlands of Wyoming and Montana. Thirties and 40s will be likely for the northern Plains and Sierra Nevada. The Northeast, northern Mid-Atlantic, Great Basin, and interior Pacific Northwest will feel 40s and 50s with some 60s mixed in. Fifties and 60s can be anticipated in the Upper Midwest, northern to central West Coast, and Four Corners.

Warming up into the 60s and 70s will be the Lower Midwest, Ohio Valley, southern Mid-Atlantic, and southern West Coast. Seventies and 80s will take up the Mid-South, central Plains, Southeast, and Desert Southwest. A mix of 80s and even 90s are anticipated in the southern Plains and Deep South.