Departing Snow the Dry.

General Overview: SIGNIFICANT COLD FRONT TO SWEEP ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN US MIDWEEK, BRINGING RAIN, SNOW, AND MIXED PRECIPITATION. BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF THE COUNTRY EXCEPT THE SOUTHWEST, WHERE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST.

EAST:  A strong cold front will push through the eastern United States by midweek, bringing precipitation to many areas. Initially, high pressure will dominate the Mid-Atlantic region on Tuesday, but this will quickly give way as the front approaches. By Wednesday evening, rain will spread across portions of the Ohio Valley and into the Appalachians, with some mixed precipitation possible in higher elevations. As the front continues eastward on Thursday, it will push offshore, with a low pressure system developing along the Northeast coast. Light snow is possible across portions of the Great Lakes and interior Northeast behind the front. By Friday, drier conditions return to most of the East, though some light precipitation may linger along coastal areas.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Near normal to slightly below normal temperatures for most areas, with cooler air beginning to filter in behind the cold front by day 3. The Northeast will start slightly above normal before cooling.

-Days 4-6: Below normal temperatures becoming more widespread across the region, with anomalies of 3-6 degrees below normal for most areas. The coldest air will be focused in the interior Northeast and Great Lakes.

-Days 7-10: Continued below normal temperatures for most of the region, with the coldest anomalies (6-12 degrees below normal) gradually moderating by day 10. Some warming may begin in the Southeast by the end of the period.

CENTRAL:  A dynamic weather pattern will affect the Central US over the next several days. Tuesday evening shows a low pressure system over the Central Plains with high pressure to the north. By Wednesday, a strong cold front will push southeastward through the region, bringing rain to portions of the Mississippi Valley and some mixed precipitation where colder air is present. The front will continue pushing south and east through Thursday, with precipitation expanding across the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast states. By Friday, high pressure builds into the Northern Plains, bringing drier but much colder conditions to the region.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Temperatures starting near normal, then trending significantly below normal as the cold front passes through. The coldest anomalies will develop in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

-Days 4-6: Well below normal temperatures becoming established across the entire region, with anomalies of 6-12 degrees below normal in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

-Days 7-10: Continued below normal temperatures for most areas, particularly across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest where anomalies will remain 8-12 degrees below normal. Some moderation possible in the Southern Plains by day 10.

WEST:  The Western US will experience a more tranquil pattern initially, with high pressure dominating the Northwest on Tuesday. By midweek, low pressure systems will affect both the Southwest and Pacific Northwest, bringing precipitation to those regions. Rain and mountain snow will develop across portions of California and the Southwest by Thursday, with some thunderstorm activity possible near the southern California coast. By Friday, precipitation will expand across the Southwest and into portions of the Southern Rockies, with a mix of rain and snow depending on elevation. Some mixed precipitation is also expected in the higher elevations of Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.

Temperature Anomalies:

-Days 1-3: Near to slightly above normal temperatures for most of the Southwest, with near to slightly below normal temperatures in the Northwest and Northern Rockies.

-Days 4-6: Above normal temperatures continuing across the Southwest (3-6 degrees above normal), while below normal temperatures spread into the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest.

-Days 7-10: Temperature pattern becomes more pronounced with above normal temperatures (4-8 degrees) across the Southwest and below normal temperatures (6-10 degrees) across the Northern Rockies and portions of the Pacific Northwest.

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