Largely Dry Conditions Expected Today

General Overview: MIXED PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN ROCKIES THROUGH FRIDAY, WITH HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS. A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS TO TEXAS AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL REGION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. COLD AIR WILL EXPAND ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN US THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK, WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES BECOMING WIDESPREAD.

EAST:
High pressure will dominate the Eastern US through Thursday, providing generally quiet weather conditions. By Friday, a cold front will approach from the west, bringing increasing clouds and some light precipitation to portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. As we move into the weekend, a developing low pressure system will track up the East Coast, potentially bringing rain to coastal areas and a wintry mix farther inland. The Great Lakes region may see some lake effect snow showers as colder air moves across the relatively warm lake waters. By Sunday into Monday, a more significant frontal boundary will push through the region with rain changing to snow in some areas, particularly across the interior Northeast and northern Appalachians.

Temperature Anomalies:
-Days 1-3: Generally near to slightly above normal temperatures across most of the region, with readings 3-6°F above normal in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The Great Lakes will see closer to normal temperatures.

-Days 4-6: Cooling trend begins with temperatures falling to near or slightly below normal for most areas. The Southeast will remain slightly above normal while areas from the Ohio Valley northward will see temperatures 2-6°F below normal.

-Days 7-10: Below normal temperatures become more widespread with anomalies of 3-8°F below normal across much of the region, particularly in the Great Lakes and interior Northeast. The coastal Southeast will remain closer to normal.

CENTRAL:
A high pressure system will provide quiet weather initially across the Central US, but significant changes are on the way. By Friday, a developing low pressure system over the Central Plains will bring increasing moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This will result in rain and thunderstorms developing across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, with some storms potentially becoming strong. The precipitation will spread northeastward into the Midwest by Saturday. As colder air filters in behind the system, rain may change to snow across portions of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The Central Plains will see a mix of precipitation types along the frontal boundary. By Sunday into early next week, much colder air will overspread the region with below normal temperatures becoming established.

Temperature Anomalies:
-Days 1-3: Near to slightly below normal temperatures across the Northern Plains, with slightly above normal readings in the Southern Plains. The temperature gradient will be noticeable across the region.

-Days 4-6: Significant cooling trend with temperatures falling to 6-12°F below normal across the Northern and Central Plains, spreading into the Midwest. Southern Plains will cool to near or slightly below normal.

-Days 7-10: Continued below normal temperatures across the entire region, with the coldest anomalies (8-12°F below normal) centered on Iowa, Missouri, and surrounding states. The cold anomalies gradually moderate toward the end of the period.

WEST:
Active weather will continue across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies through Friday with areas of rain, snow, and mixed precipitation. Several low pressure systems will move through the region, bringing periods of precipitation. The higher elevations of the Cascades, Northern Rockies, and Sierra Nevada will see accumulating snowfall, with heavy snow possible in some locations. The Southwest will remain mostly dry with near to slightly above normal temperatures. By the weekend, precipitation will diminish across much of the region as high pressure builds in, though some moisture may linger in the Pacific Northwest. Early next week, another system may approach the West Coast, bringing a chance for precipitation to return to the region.

Temperature Anomalies:
-Days 1-3: Above normal temperatures across much of the Southwest and Great Basin, with readings 3-6°F above normal. The Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies will see near to slightly below normal temperatures.

-Days 4-6: Cooling trend for the Northwest and Northern Rockies with temperatures falling to 3-8°F below normal. The Southwest will remain slightly above normal.

-Days 7-10: Below normal temperatures become more widespread across the northern tier of the West, while the Southwest gradually returns to near normal. The Pacific Northwest will see temperatures 2-5°F below normal.

TROPICAL:
No tropical cyclone activity is expected during the next 7 days in either the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins.