A storm system bringing showers and thunderstorms from the central Gulf Coast to Florida Tuesday will turn northeast on Wednesday, with rounds of showers and thunderstorms stretching from southern Virginia south into South Florida.
A few storms may be severe, and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Marginal Risk for severe weather for the chance of some gusty winds, hail, and an isolated tornado.
The severe threat begins to diminish by Thursday morning as the storm system's warm sector moves offshore, but thunderstorms will continue over the Carolinas and southern Mid-Atlantic.
In total, through early Thursday morning, most areas from the central Gulf Coast to the Carolinas can expect 1 to 2 inches of rainfall with localized totals surpassing 2 inches where the most intense convection transpires.
Farther west, a Pacific disturbance is directing moisture into the Northwest as an upper trough deepens over the Central Rockies Wednesday and a cold front moves eastward.
Mountain snow/valley rain will continue for the Cascades, northern Rockies, and northern Great Basin overnight Tuesday, with the snow spreading into the Central Rockies late Wednesday into early Thursday.
Higher peaks of the Cascades and northern Rockies may see up to another 6-8 inches of snow through Wednesday Morning.
Portions of the Sawtooths, Bitterroots, Tetons, and the Rockies of western Wyoming and central Colorado can expect 6 to 12 inches of snow through Thursday morning, with the highest amounts expected in the more northern mountain ranges.
Temperature-wise, a surge of above normal temperatures will expand over the Plains and Midwest ahead of the Pacific system and cold front.
Daytime highs will soar into the 60s and 70s in the Great Plains Wednesday, with 80s popping up in parts of the Southern Plains.
A warming trend is also expected in the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast, with daytime highs ranging between 10 to 20 degrees above normal.
In terms of fire weather, dry conditions and occasionally gusty winds are favoring an Elevated Risk for fire weather by the Storm Prediction Center Wednesday stretching from the Southwest to the Southern High Plains.
Cooler temperatures will follow the southeastward moving cold front on Thursday for portions of the Southern High Plains.
However, there will be a Critical Risk of fire weather Thursday across the Big Bend of Texas, where conditions are already extreme dry and winds will increase ahead of the cold front.
Finally, on Thursday, severe weather chances will ramp up from Texas to the Lower Mississippi Valley ahead of a developing low pressure system forming in the lee of the Rockies.
This area of low pressure will move east into the Red River Valley by Thursday evening, with moisture surging northward from the Gulf ahead of the low and southeastward moving cold front.
The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a Slight Risk of severe weather from northeastern Texas southeast to the Lower Mississippi Valley.
Widespread thunderstorms are expected to develop along and behind the front beginning Thursday afternoon, with a risk for severe wind gusts and large hail. ■