A developing area of low pressure over the Gulf of Maine this morning is forecast to strengthen and pivot near the Bay of Fundy tonight.
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As it does so, rain and higher elevation snow will overspread much of northern New England.
Northern Maine in particular is expected to see the most impacts associated with snowfall, as accumulations add up to around 4 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts in the highest elevations.
This coastal storm will be slow to exit as a closed upper-level low enters the picture and leads to the system becoming vertically stacked.
Breezy northwesterly winds and snow showers will linger through at least late Friday.
The chilly northwesterly flow will also aid in much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic experiencing below average temperatures over the next several days.
In fact, below average temperatures will continue to stretch into the Midwest and northern Plains thanks to a strong high pressure system building southward from Ontario.
Widespread highs will reach into the 40s and 50s, with lows dipping into the 20s and 30s.
Sensitive vegetation throughout the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic will endure frost/freeze chances until late this week.
Meanwhile, a stationary boundary extending from the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the central Plains, a forming dryline over the southern High Plains, and embedded shortwaves within an upper-level ridge will create chances for isolated severe thunderstorms and instances of flash flooding across the central U.S. through Thursday.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Marginal Risk (level 1/5) of severe thunderstorms for today from south-central Nebraska to the Texas Panhandle and northeast New Mexico, where a few storms could produce damaging wind gusts and large hail.
The marginal severe storm threat shifts slightly east into the central and southern Plains on Thursday.
Isolated instances of flash flooding are also possible on Thursday from the central Plains into the middle Mississippi Valley as showers and storms form along the aforementioned stationary front.
On the dry side of this system, critical fire weather is forecast from the southern Rockies to the southern High Plains through the end of the week.
Low relative humidity and gusty winds could create an environment conducive for rapid wildfire spread, which has also prompted Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches to be issued for parts of Arizona, New Mexico, southwest Colorado, and West Texas.
The next large-scale weather maker to impact the Nation will begin to take shape late Thursday as a potent and negatively tilted upper-level trough enters the Intermountain West.
In tandem, an area of low pressure is forecast to develop over the central High Plains and aid in producing a widespread area of precipitation extending across the northern Plains and northern Rockies on Friday.
Heavy snow is possible across the higher terrain of northwest Wyoming and western/central Montana.
Snowfall accumulations over 6 inches are possible for locations above 5000 feet and could impact travel overnight when snowfall is most likely to stick to road surfaces.
Additionally, periods of heavy rain are expected over the northern Plains.
Rainfall totals over 2 inches may lead to increasing chances for flash flooding from south-central North Dakota to central South Dakota, where a Slight Risk (level 2/4) of excessive rainfall has been issued.
Showers and thunderstorms will also extend into the central/southern Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley by Friday afternoon ahead of a sharp dryline, with storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes.
SPC has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe weather from far southeast Nebraska to eastern Kansas, with a larger Slight Risk (level 2/5) extending from Nebraska to far north-central Texas. ■
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