Weekend Weather Preview

A wet pattern continues this weekend with scattered storms across the center to eastern portion of the U.S. 

Saturday 

A weak low-pressure system drifts into the Ohio Valley on Saturday. All around this system, showers and storms will populate the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Gulf Coast, and Midwest. Flash flooding and damaging winds are likely with this activity.  

There will be strong storms up and down the Plains. In the southern Plains, a couple of organized lines of storms will form and cause issues with damaging winds and flash flooding. The best ingredients for storms will overlap in the central and northern Plains. Scattered storms will feature large hail, a few tornadoes, and damaging winds. 

There will be isolated showers and storms across the Northeast. The storms will likely stay focused in southern portions of the Northeast while the northern portions stay colder with showers. 

Except for the northern Rockies, the rest of the Rockies will stay dry. This will extend to the West Coast and Desert Southwest.  

Temperatures in the 50s and 60s will be found in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, upper Michigan Peninsula, and higher terrain Rockies. Seventies and 80s will be in place in the northern Plains, Four Corners, West Coast, Ohio Valley, Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf Coast. Highs in the 90s will be found in the central and southern Plains. Southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California could see triple digits in low elevation, desert locations. 

Sunday 

A cold front will be stalled from the northern Plains and Midwest into the Mid-Atlantic for the end of the weekend. There will also be two fast-moving weather disturbances that move along the front, while moisture from the Gulf streams northward. 

This will all translate into chances for rain and thunderstorms along and east of the Rockies on Sunday. The northern Plains, Gulf Coast and Southeast will all have the greatest chance of widespread rain and thunderstorms. The Great Lakes, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast would likely see more isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms.  

Across the Plains as well as the Southeast, be prepared for potential strong to severe thunderstorms. Within storms, the main concerns would be damaging winds and large hail. However, torrential rain leading to localized flooding and perhaps a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out. 

Meanwhile, a strong ridge of high pressure will build over the West. Expect dry and hot weather for the Western U.S. 

The Pacific Northwest, the tallest Rocky Mountains peaks and the Appalachian Spine into the Northeast will report high temperatures mainly in the upper 50s and 60s. Otherwise, 70s and 80s are in store across the Northern Tier. Eighties and 90s will be extensive across the rest of the nation. Though southern California into the Desert Southwest will report temperatures in 100s and a few 110s.