Arctic air will remain absent from the Lower 48 as 2022 ends and 2023 begins with a progressive, generally west to east, mid to upper level flow pattern expected across the U.S.
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This pattern will continue to support much above average temperatures for the central to eastern U.S. along with numerous record high minimum temperatures possible Friday morning across Southern California, Southern Nevada and portions of the east.
Additional numerous record high minimum temperatures possible New Year's morning across much of the Northeast from Washington D.C. into Boston and over the Southwest.
In addition to the much above average temperatures, New Year's Eve may be wet from Southern California, northeast into southern Nevada and northern Utah and from New York City to Boston.
The recent wet weather pattern for large portions of the West coast will continue over the next several days.
The next in the series of heavy precipitation events to affect the west coast will be sinking south Friday night from northern California and the Great Basin, into central California and the Sierra on Saturday and into Southern California and portions of the Southwest by New Year's day.
High snow elevations will result in a greater than average amount of the heavy precipitation in the Sierra falling as rain, increasing the potential for flash flooding in the interior California Valleys.
Flash flooding also possible across much of the California coastal regions, especially over any recent burn scar areas.
These rains will, however, be very beneficial to areas of California and Nevada that remain in long term Severe to Exceptional drought.
Heavy rains are also possible Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening across the Gulf Coast from southern Mississippi across the Florida Panhandle.
This heavy rain threat is expected to diminish by or shortly after midnight Saturday, but an overall showery wet pattern will continue Saturday across the eastern third of the country. ■