A deep and expansive low pressure system centered over the upper Midwest has begun to weaken but more unsettled weather is expected for much of the northern and eastern U.S. over the next couple of days.
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First of all, much of the northern and central Plains will continue to be impacted by strong and gusty winds through today and into Friday as the cyclone pulls abnormally cold air down from Canada.
To the north of the storm center, temperatures will be cold enough to support wet snow from northern Minnesota to the upper Great Lakes while mixed rain and snow can be expected farther south into the upper Midwest.
Some areas near the south shore of Lake Superior could get a foot or more of snow given favorable enhancement across the lake waters.
As the low pressure system gradually weakens with time, it will begin to slide across the Great Lakes with some lake effect snow to continue downwind from the lake waters.
The large area of precipitation associated with the system will then head across the Ohio Valley toward the Appalachians on Friday.
By early Saturday morning, some wet snow can be expected across the higher elevations from the upper Ohio Valley to the Appalachians as temperatures drop to near freezing at the coldest locations.
Meanwhile on the warm side of the system, scattered clusters of showers and thunderstorms are steadily moving into the East Coast ahead of an active cold front.
The southeastern U.S. will be under the highest threat of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms this morning, possibly reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast during the day as a low pressure wave is forecast to develop along the cold front.
This area of low pressure is expected to intensify and move up toward the southern New England coast by tonight.
Some enhanced rainfall ahead of the low is forecast to move through New England tonight along with gusty winds.
In addition, the higher elevations of interior New England could see rain changing to a period of wintry precipitation Thursday night into Friday morning.
Gusty winds, low humidity, and dry fuels will continue to promote elevated fire danger over portions of the central to southern Plains for today with a slight diminishing threat by the weekend.
A strong ridge of high pressure aloft is forecast to build across the western U.S. into late week.
This ridge will dispel the cold and windy weather up north as heat will progressively build across the Southwest.
In fact, high temperatures are forecast to challenge records by this afternoon in California, with readings possibly reaching the century mark near Los Angeles.
Gusty Santa Ana winds could also make an appearance as the Rockies high pressure system builds southward.
More record high temperatures are forecast for Friday as the next Pacific cold front reaches the West Coast with rain/snow reaching the Pacific Northwest tonight/Friday morning.
By Saturday morning, much colder air will be ushered across the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, and into the northern Rockies behind the strong cold front, along with very gusty winds. ■
A strong storm that originated over the Pacific has tracked through the Great Basin and is currently transitioning across the Rockies to redevelop across the central High Plains later today into early Saturday morning.