Extremely Cold

General Overview: SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS EXPECTED ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH FREEZING RAIN, MIXED PRECIPITATION, AND HEAVY RAIN. A DANGEROUS ICE STORM IS DEVELOPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL STATES AND SOUTHEAST. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING QUIETER CONDITIONS TO MUCH OF THE COUNTRY BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

EAST:
A potent storm system will bring significant winter weather impacts to the Southeast through the weekend. Freezing rain is the primary concern across portions of the Southeast on Saturday, with a broad area extending from the Carolinas westward through Tennessee. This freezing rain threat will shift eastward by Sunday, focusing more on the Mid-Atlantic region. Rain will be prevalent along the immediate Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic coast. By Monday, the system will move offshore, with high pressure building in across the region, leading to clearing conditions. Some light snow may linger across portions of the Northeast early in the week, but overall quieter weather is expected by Tuesday.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Below normal temperatures will dominate across much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with readings 3-6 degrees below normal. The Southeast will see temperatures 6-10 degrees below normal, particularly in areas experiencing freezing rain.

-Days 4-6: Temperatures will moderate somewhat but remain below normal across much of the region, with anomalies of 2-5 degrees below average. The coldest air will retreat northward.

-Days 7-10: Continued below normal temperatures across the region, with anomalies of 3-6 degrees below average, particularly across the interior Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

CENTRAL:
A complex winter weather system will impact the Central region through the weekend. Freezing rain and mixed precipitation will affect a large area from eastern Texas through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and into portions of Missouri and Kentucky. This presents a significant ice storm threat with potentially dangerous travel conditions and power outages. Thunderstorms are possible along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Louisiana. By Sunday, the system will shift eastward, with high pressure building in from the west. This will bring drier conditions to the Central Plains by Monday, though some light snow may linger across the northern portions of the region. By Tuesday, high pressure will dominate across much of the Central states, leading to quiet weather conditions.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Significantly below normal temperatures across the Central Plains and Midwest, with anomalies of 8-12 degrees below normal in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The South Central region will see temperatures 4-8 degrees below normal.

-Days 4-6: Below normal temperatures will persist across much of the region, with the coldest anomalies (6-10 degrees below normal) remaining across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

-Days 7-10: Temperatures will remain below normal across most of the Central states, with anomalies gradually moderating to 3-6 degrees below normal by day 10.

WEST:
The Western states will experience relatively quiet weather compared to the eastern two-thirds of the country. High pressure will dominate across much of the region through the weekend, with some precipitation possible in the Pacific Northwest. By Saturday evening, a low pressure system will be situated in the Southwest, bringing rain and some higher elevation snow to portions of Arizona and New Mexico. This system will move eastward by Sunday, with high pressure building in across the entire region by Monday and Tuesday. Some light rain and mountain snow may develop in the Pacific Northwest by midweek, but overall conditions will remain relatively quiet.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Above normal temperatures across much of the Southwest and Great Basin, with anomalies of 3-6 degrees above normal. The Pacific Northwest will see near normal to slightly below normal temperatures.

-Days 4-6: Warming trend continues with above normal temperatures expanding across most of the West, particularly in the Southwest where anomalies will reach 4-8 degrees above normal.

-Days 7-10: Above normal temperatures will persist across the Southwest and Great Basin, with anomalies of 4-8 degrees above normal. The Pacific Northwest will see temperatures closer to normal.

TROPICAL:
No tropical cyclone activity is expected during the next 7 days. The tropical outlook shows no disturbances being monitored at this time.