A meandering closed upper low spinning over the Desert Southwest will continue to funnel moisture northward into the Four Corners region and create additional chances for heavy mountain snow through the weekend.
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Snow chances will diminish today across the central/southern High Plains as upslope flow weakens, but mountainous terrain of the central and southern Rockies can expect an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow through Sunday.
The higher elevations of southern Utah and Arizona can also expect snowfall accumulations over a foot, which will create hazardous driving conditions.
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect for these regions.
Farther east, waves of low pressure and an associated cold front are forecast to slide south and east today while stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southern Plains.
Heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms will accompany this system, with the greatest chances for severe weather and/or flash flooding located across parts of the Mid-South and south-central Texas.
For these areas, thunderstorms could be strong enough to contain damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.
Meanwhile, the primary risk across south-central Texas is expected to be associated with large hail and scattered flash flooding.
By this weekend, the aforementioned frontal boundary is forecast to stall along the Gulf Coast and southern Texas, resulting in additional chances for heavy rain that could lead to scattered flooding concerns from south-central Texas to southern Mississippi.
The other notable weather system to impact the Lower 48 will be a potent low pressure system passing to the north of the Great Lakes on Saturday and nearing Maine on Sunday.
The greatest impacts are anticipated to be associated with gusty winds across the Great Lakes and decreasing temperatures throughout the Upper Midwest by Sunday.
Additionally, periods of lake effect snow could be locally heavy across the U.P. of Michigan downwind of Lake Superior.
Otherwise, strong southerly flow on the eastern side of this system will keep much of the East Coast mild with high temperatures mainly in the 60s and 70s.
The other warm spots over the next few days include the Pacific Northwest and Southeast, where a few daily record highs are possible.
Parts of western Washington and Oregon may see highs into the mid-70s, while mid-to-upper 80s are found throughout the Sunshine State. ■
Modified arctic air combined with a moisture-laden area of low pressure along the Gulf Coast will continue to allow for a broad area of winter weather impacts from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Southeast today into early Saturday morning.