Weekend Weather Preview

A one-two punch of weather systems will impact the U.S. this weekend, creating a soggy, stormy forecast.

Saturday
One low pressure system will drift from the Great Lakes into the Northeast on Saturday. There will be a cold front associated with this low pressure that moves through the East Coast, while the western fringe of this cold front hangs out over the south-central U.S.

Rain and thunderstorms will soak the Great Lakes and Tennessee Valley in the morning, which will move into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic during the afternoon and evening. The south-central U.S. will also have a good chance for rain and thunderstorms, while some showers and thunderstorms could also pop-up in the Southeast and Deep South later in the day.

Severe weather will be possible along this front from the Eastern Seaboard to the south-central U.S. The Mid-Atlantic coast and the southern Plains have the best chance though. Thunderstorms could produce strong winds, large hail, torrential downpours and perhaps a tornado or two.

Meanwhile, a new Pacific storm system will move over the Western U.S. for the start of the weekend. Rain and even a few thunderstorms will become increasingly likely from northwest to southeast during the day, with the Northwest, Great Basin and Rockies all seeing rain by late in the day. The tallest peaks of the Mountain West could also see some wet snow or a rain/snow mix.

Only a few spots will be free of weather concerns on Saturday. This includes most of California, the north-central U.S., the immediate Gulf Coast and Florida.

Most of the Northwest, the higher elevations of the Mountain West and the far northern Plains will report highs only in the 40s and 50s, but some isolated 30s are possible. The rest of the Northern Tier will generally see 60s and 70s on Saturday, while 80s and 90s dominate the Southern Tier. Scattered 100s will also be found in southern Texas.
 
Sunday
Two low pressure systems will continue to cause trouble nationwide on Sunday. One system will push across New England into the Atlantic Ocean, while the other system marches into the Central U.S.

Rain and isolated thunderstorms drench the Northeast throughout the day. Widely scattered to scattered showers are also possible for the Upper Great Lakes and northern Mid-Atlantic.

Farther west, rain and mountain snow will ruin any outdoor plans in the Northwest, Great Basin, Rockies and High Plains throughout the day. As the low pressure system moves into the Central U.S., rain showers and thunderstorms will develop in the southern half of the Plains.

Severe weather is a possibility once again on Sunday, with eastern Colorado, most of Kansas and Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle having the best chance. The main concerns within thunderstorms would be damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain. Though, isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out.

Dry weather persists across California into the Desert Southwest as well as most of Florida into the Southeast.

Thirties and 40s will be widespread throughout the mountains and higher elevations of the Northwest, Great Basin and Rockies. Otherwise, expect mainly 50s for the lower elevations here along with the northern Plains, Upper Great Lakes and interior Northeast. Expect 60s and 70s for most of California as well as the central Plains, Midwest, Tennessee Valley, southern New England and Mid-Atlantic. Eighties will see occur in the Desert Southwest, while extensive 80s and 90s broil the southern Plains, Deep South and Southeast. Texas will also continue to see triple digit heat.