An amplifying upper-level trough continues to dig southward into the western U.S. Moisture lifted ahead of the upper trough within a cold air mass is producing heavy snow across the central Rockies early this morning.
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As the cold air continues to filter southward, the rain that initially falls over the lower elevations is forecast to change over to heavy wet snow.
The heaviest snow is forecast to be along the Front Range of Colorado where a few feet of snow could accumulate.
Lesser amounts are expected in adjacent areas but one to two feet of wet snow can be expected down into the Foothills and High Plains such as Boulder and Denver, Colorado.
Hazardous to very difficult travel is expected as heavy snow and intense snow rates at times (1-2 inches plus per hour) will lead to hazardous travel conditions.
By tonight into Friday, the main upper-level low is forecast to dip further south into the Desert Southwest.
Snow across the central Rockies/High Plains is expected to gradually taper off as the dynamics of the low move farther south.
However, the Four Corners region will be under the most favorable region for precipitation to form and expand beginning on Friday as the upper low is forecast to meander over the region.
Mountain snow and lower elevation rain are expected to linger over the Four Corners region going into the weekend.
On the warm side of the system, a low pressure system is developing over the central Plains and tracking toward the Midwest.
Influx of warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico has organized strong to severe thunderstorms ahead of a warm front.
These thunderstorms containing heavy rainfall are forecast to push southward from the east-central Plains this morning to the Arklatex region on Friday, and into southeastern Texas by Saturday morning near or just behind an advancing cold front.
Meanwhile, the low pressure system will bring widespread rainfall across the southern half of the Great Lakes today, spreading into New England tonight into Friday.
The rain will likely mix with wet snow across interior New England on Friday before the system steadily moves off the coast early on Saturday.
As the winter storm develops over the western U.S., much of the eastern U.S. will enter an extended period of very warm and pleasant weather.
High temperatures in the 60s and 70s from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic states will be 20-25 degrees above normal for this time of year.
However, a cold front from Canada is forecast to rapidly dip into the northern Plains by early on Saturday.
This cold front will signal the beginning of a rapid cooling trend forecast to head toward the East Coast thereafter. ■