Weekend Weather Preview

Outdoor summer plans might be in jeopardy this weekend if you live in the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. thanks to a soggy, stormy weather pattern. It should be smooth sailing though in the Western U.S.! 

Saturday 

As a low-pressure system slides eastward in southern Canada, rain and storms will push into the Northeast. Half an inch to 2 inches of rain is likely from central to northern Maine. A weak cold front will be draped southwestward of this low-pressure and will be the initiating factor for storms in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-South. Damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding will be the main things to watch. Isolated tornadoes will be possible with this activity. 

A couple of organized lines of storms will form late in the day in western portions of the Midwest, and the Northern to Central Plains. Damaging wind gusts will be prevalent as well as the possibility for large hail and a couple of tornadoes. 

An isolated storm or two may form in the Southern Plains with the threat of hail and damaging winds. 

A few pop-up storms will be possible along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. 

Almost the entirety of the Western U.S. will be dry with high pressure dominating the area. Seasonal temperatures have been in control for the past week, but this will begin to change on Saturday to hotter temperatures. 

Temperatures in the 50s will be possible in the upper sections of the Northeast and in the higher terrain of the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Sixties and 70s will be likely in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, Great Lakes, along the Pacific Coast, and Northeast. Highs in 80s will be likely in the Central Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley, Four Corners, and Mid-Atlantic. The Southern Plains, Gulf Coast, Southeast, Mid-South, and sections of Southwest U.S. will see 90s. The Desert Southwest will see its seasonal 100-degree temperatures. 

Sunday 

A cold front will be stalled from the Rockies and central Plains into the Great Lakes and Northeast on Sunday. This cold front will interact with moisture from the Gulf as well as fast-moving weather disturbances. The result will be widespread rain and thunderstorms along and east of the Rockies. 

The best chance for rain and thunderstorms on Sunday will be in the afternoon and evening. Though wet, stormy weather will occur throughout the day in the Tennessee Valley and Gulf Coast. Be on the lookout for strong to severe thunderstorms, mainly in the north-central U.S. The main concerns would be damaging winds and large hail. A few tornadoes cannot be ruled out. 

Slow-moving, repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain will also be a possibility. This could lead to a quick 1 to 3 inches of rain falling in places. There could be flash flooding, especially in low-lying, urban and other more flood prone areas. If you approach a flooded roadway, remember that it is always best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” 

At the same time, high pressure will be in control of the weather across the West. Dry, quiet weather will be in the forecast there. 

The coolest temperatures will occur in the tallest peaks of the Mountain West as well as the far interior Northeast, where temperatures will only reach the 50s and 60s. The rest of the Northern Tier will generally expect 70s and lower 80s. Eighties and 90s will be most common on Sunday, including California, the Great Basin and central Plains into the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Triple digit heat is in store across the Desert Southwest, southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley, with the mercury topping out around 110 degrees.