Weekend Weather Preview

After a hectic week of weather, expect a calmer weekend for most of the U.S. Unfortunately, it will remain damp and stormy for the Gulf Coast, Southeast and perhaps a few spots in the West.

Saturday
The weather system that has led to wet, stormy weather in the East over the past week will finally move away from the U.S. on Saturday. However, it will squeeze out as much moisture as it can over the Northeast. Rain showers will soak the region in the morning, with rain gradually tapering off and ending from west-to-east in the afternoon and evening.

A strengthening low pressure looks to drift across the Gulf Coast for the start of the weekend. As a result, rain and thunderstorms are expected throughout the Gulf Coast and into parts of the Southeast. Northern Florida will see a dreary, stormy day, while there is plenty of sunshine and dry weather for central and southern Florida.

Slow-moving, repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain will be possible across the Gulf Coast into the Southeast coast. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches will be likely, with locally higher amounts of 3 to 4 inches possible. If you approach a flooded roadway, remember it is always best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

A ridge of high pressure will generally control the weather for the western half of the U.S. There will be a stalled front over parts of the Northwest into the far northern Rockies and northern Plains that could trigger a few showers and thunderstorms. Isolated showers are also possible throughout the rest of the Rockies. Otherwise, dry weather is in store for the western and central U.S.

The coldest temperatures will be found in western Washington State, the tallest peaks of the Rockies and northern New England. Here, temperatures will reach the 40s and 50s. Most of the U.S. will record high temperatures in the 60s and 70s. There will be a few spots in the interior Northwest and Great Basin that see the mercury reach the lower 80s, while widespread 80s will occur throughout the northern and central Plains.

Temperatures will range from the 60s and 70s in northern Florida to 80s and 90s for central and southern parts of the state. Extensive 80s and 90s are likely in California, while the Desert Southwest see triple digit heat!
 
Sunday
By Sunday, we are left with two opposing corners of the nation, the Northwest, and the Southeast, set to face off against precipitous systems to end the weekend.

The temperate Deep Southeast will funnel copious amounts of Gulf moisture under the whims of a stubborn-to-move low pressure system, charging numerous moderate to heavy showers and scattered thunderstorms through Sunday. Rain totals exceeding an inch or two are expected under the least fortunate locales in the Eastern Gulf, sparking lingering flood risks. More moderate rain totals below half an inch, however, are most likely.

In contrast, the Northwestern U.S. will be free from both thunderstorms and flood risks. The region will thank yet another low pressure system for its light to moderate showers, primarily picking up into the afternoon hours. High winds will also pick up, particularly in the Intermountain West toward the storm system's behind.

Aside from very isolated drizzle over the Upper Midwest, the nation's northeastern and southwestern quadrants will not need to prepare for any form of showers.

Strong spring heat will break over most regions by Sunday, except cool 40s and 50s capping over the interior Northeast, the higher western slopes, and the northern Pacific Coastline. Instead, warm 60s rule the rest of the Pacific Northwest and New England while 70s and spots of 80s dominate over the southern Pacific Coastline, the Intermountain West, the South, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday.

Although seasonable for the South Texas and the Florida Peninsula, anomalously hot, 80s and 90s zap both the northern and High Plains. Additionally, summer heat blazes over the Desert Southwest once again, widely punching over the upper 90s and into the triple-digits.