Post Tropical Cyclone Nicole's extratropical transition should complete by tonight, at which point it will merge with a cold front sweeping across the Ohio Valley.
Article continues below
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely from the Central Appalachians/Ohio Valley up through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast tonight.
A Slight Risk of excessive rainfall leading to flash flooding is in effect over the Central/Appalachians, up through the Allegheny/Western Pennsylvania and into upstate New York where convective bands may yield high rain rates, particularly over urban areas and elevated terrain.
A Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms as well as tornado watches are in effect over portions of the Virginia/North Carolina Tidewater and points inland tonight within an environment of elevated instability.
Wind advisories remain in effect over much of South Carolina and western North Carolina tonight.
Showers and thunderstorm activity associated with Nicole will retreat mostly into New England by Saturday before concluding tomorrow night.
Surface troughing and northwesterly flow on the backside of the upper trough associated with the eastern U.S.
cold front will generate light to moderate snow downwind of the Great Lakes through Sunday.
Between 4-8 inches of snow is likely over portions of western Michigan and the U.P. with locally higher amounts possible.
Record high temperatures and widespread low temperature records are set to be broken across the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Coasts tonight and Saturday.
Another Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms is in effect over portions of southern-central Texas tonight due to an approaching and strong cold front from the north.
Large hail will be the main severe weather threat according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Temperatures will drop significantly across much of Texas and many places will experience their first freeze of the season behind the cold front tonight.
Freeze and Hard Freeze warnings are in effect for much of southeastern New Mexico through central Texas and up into central Oklahoma as a result.
Surface high pressure and below average temperatures dominate over much of the lower 48 in the wake of Nicole and the East Coast system by this Sunday and continuing into the work week. ■