Friday's Weather Outlook

Active spring weather sticks around on Friday across the Northern Tier, with everything from flooding rains and severe weather to even some mountain snow. At the same time, summer-like heat bakes the southern half of the nation.

The main weathermaker on Friday will be a low pressure spinning from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes. There will be an associated warm front that lifts across the Eastern U.S. The low pressure also has two cold fronts linked to it – the main front pushing across the Midwest and Tennessee Valley and the other reinforcing front draped from the Rockies into the Northwest.

As a result, there will be widespread rain and thunderstorms throughout the Northern Tier as well as the Midwest, Tennessee Valley and Carolinas. Rain and thunderstorms will be found throughout the northern Plains and Upper Mississippi and Tennessee valleys for much of the day. Occasional rounds of rain and even some mountain snow are likely for the entire day in the Northwest and northern Rockies. The best timing for the Great Lakes, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will be in the afternoon and evening.

Severe weather will be likely across the Midwest and Tennessee Valley for the end of the work week. Here, the greatest chance for severe weather will occur in the afternoon and evening. Be prepared for damaging winds, large hail and even a few thunderstorms.

Heavy rain will also be a concern for the Midwest and Tennessee Valley. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches could quickly fall, with locally higher amounts possible. This could trigger flooding concerns, especially in low-lying, urban and other more flood prone areas. Remember, if you do approach a flooded roadway, it is always best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

A few showers and thunderstorms could develop in the southern Plains. Meanwhile, most of the Southern Tier of the U.S. will be under high pressure. California into the Southwest and the Southeast should be dry.

Unseasonably warm weather remains in the forecast for much of the eastern half of the U.S., while near to below average temperatures await the western half.

The coldest spots on Friday will be in the Rockies and northern Plains as well as the tallest peaks of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. Temperatures will only reach the 40s and lower 50s. However, some places will struggle to get out of the 30s! Expect 50s and 60s for the Northwest, Great Basin, central Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley. Isolated 60s will also occur in the interior Northeast.
Warmer 70s and 80s are in store across California into the Desert Southwest, the southern Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and the entire Eastern Seaboard. Triple digit heat will also bake most of Texas.