The same storm system which brought widespread severe weather and heavy rainfall the past couple of days across the Deep South will continue into the Eastern U.S. today, although the severe and flash flood threat should wane somewhat.
Even still, heavy rainfall is possible along the front across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic today.
WPC maintains a broad Marginal risk (threat level 1/4) of excessive rainfall across portions of the Mid-Atlantic into the Southeast, with an embedded focused Slight Risk area (threat level 2/4) over the eastern Florida Panhandle.
SPC is also monitoring two areas for organized severe weather today over the Ohio River Valley and Georgia/Carolina Piedmont, both under a Slight Risk (threat level 2/5) for the threat of a couple tornadoes, severe wind, and hail.
Over the last hour, Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado watches were issued over these regions as thunderstorm development is underway.
Northwest of the low, modest snow and ice accumulations are anticipated through tonight across portions of the Northern Tier and Upper Peninsula, with up to 2 inches of snowfall and a glazing of ice possible.
The threat of wintry weather is then expected to shift over interior New England this evening, where up to an inch of snow and a tenth of an inch of ice could fall.
In advance of the impending wintry weather, Winter Weather Advisories are in effect through tomorrow for Northeast New York into Northern Maine.
In the wake of this expansive and dynamic system, a colder air mass should settle in, with cool northwesterly flow supporting a cooler than average pattern across the eastern half of the U.S. through this weekend.
Elsewhere, gusty winds and dry conditions will continue an Elevated to Critical fire (threat revels 1/3 and 2/3, respectively) weather threat across western to central/southern Plains through Friday, per SPC.
A weak front into the West will bring some light rain and mountain snow to parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, but there shouldn't be much precipitation to accompany the front as it moves east into the interior West and northern Plains.
Some rain or wintry weather may develop with the front into the Upper Great Lakes on Friday, with another period of gusty winds possible.
A strong and expansive upper level ridge parked over the Western U.S. will bring much above normal temperatures to much of the western half of the country through at least the remainder of the work week.
Daytime highs for parts of California and the Great Basin could be 10 to 20 degrees above normal.
Numerous daily record high temperatures are possible through this weekend west over the Great Basin and Southwest. ■