General Weather | Hometown Forecast Services

The Week Ahead: April 4-10, 2022

Another multi-day severe weather outbreak is expected across the southern tier of states this week thanks to a pair of storm systems.

Low pressure moving into the Southern Plains will help produce severe weather over the next few days. Image provided by NOAA.

Low pressure will move out of the Plains states and into the Mississippi Valley today. Ahead of the system, another round of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected from the southern Plains and Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley. Many of the storms will produce large hail, damaging winds, heavy downpours and tornadoes. As the system heads eastward, the severe weather threat will shift to the Gulf Coast and the Southeast on Tuesday. While the activity may not be as strong or as widespread, severe storms are still expected across much of the region. That system will move off the East Coast late Tuesday, bringing some rain, possibly heavy, to parts of the Mid-Atlantic states and into the Northeast.

Severe weather is expected across the southern tier of states over the next several days. Image provided by Pivotal Weather.

Another storm quickly follows on Wednesday, with the threat of severe weather returning to the Tennessee Valley and Deep South. Once again, some of the storms may produce damaging winds, hail, heavy downpours, and tornadoes. This threat will shift into the Mid-Atlantic states by Thursday. Another round of heavy rain is also likely from the Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast on Thursday, which could lead to some localized flooding. Parts of the region have been somewhat dry recently, with drought conditions beginning to show up in some areas, so the rain will be good news.

Drought conditions are beginning to show up across parts of the Northeast. Image provided by the National Drought Mitigation Center.

While the rain is good news for the developing drought, for some places in the Northeast, the rain will not be a welcome sight on Thursday, as it is Opening Day for Major League Baseball in 9 cities across the nation. The rain will threat to wipe out at least two of those games, when the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals host the New York Mets. At the very least, significant rain delays are possible. Rain could also cause some delays in Chicago, where the Cubs open up against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The baseball season opens a little later than normal this coming Thursday. Image provided by MLB.com

Meanwhile, in the Northern Plains and the Upper Midwest, a slow-moving storm system, both at the surface and aloft, will take its time crossing the region later this week. Some occasional rain showers are likely, eventually changing over to snow as colder air settles in. Several inches of snowfall accumulation possible from the Dakotas into the northern Great Lakes, spread out over several days, with some locations possible seeing as much as 8-12 inches of snow by the time everything winds down at the end of the week.

Accumulation snow is expected from the Dakotas into the Great Lakes this week. Image provided by WeatherBell.

The Week Ahead: March 14-20, 2022

Astronomical spring begins next Sunday at 11:33am, and right on cue, severe weather season will start to ramp up across the southern tier of states.

Low pressure moving into the Southern Plains will be the big story over the next few days. Image provided by NOAA.

A low pressure system will move into the southern Plains and Texas on Monday, drawing warm and humid air northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This will help fuel some strong to severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and at night across portions of eastern Texas and into the Lower Mississippi Valley. Some of the stronger storms may produce large hail and damaging winds, with a few tornadoes possible, especially in parts of northeastern Texas. As the storm moves eastward. the severe weather threat will shift with it, spread into parts of the Gulf Coast and northern Florida on Tuesday, where damaging winds will be the main threat.

Severe weather is possible in parts of eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley on Monday. Image provided by the Storm Prediction Center.

Out West, some much-needed rainfall will return later this week. After a very wet end to 2021, much drier weather has settled into the West Coast for the first 10 weeks of 2022, during what is normally the rainy season. A series of storms systems will move in this week, bringing some rain and mountain snow to parts of Washington, Oregon, and at least northern portions of California, as well as parts of Idaho and western Montana. Over the next seven days, many locations could receive 1-2 inches of rain, with significantly heavier amounts possible west of the Cascades and along the coast. Significant snow is possible in the mountains, especially the Cascades. None of these systems are expected to produce exceptionally strong winds, except perhaps right at the coastline.

Rainfall has been well below normal across most of the West over the past 60 days. Image provided by the High Plains Regional Climate Center.

The other area we’re keeping an eye on stretches from the Northern Plains into the Northeast. Temperatures will be quite mild for much of the upcoming week. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above normal across much of the region through at least Thursday in the Plains, and Friday across the Great Lakes and Northeast. A few record highs are possible, especially toward the end of the week across the Northeast.

The Week Ahead: March 7-13, 2022

A rather active week is expected, especially across the eastern two-thirds of the nation.

A wavy frontal system is draped across the nation to start the week. Image provided by NOAA.

Low pressure will move across the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast today, providing a variety of weather for the eastern half of the nation. The most impactful weather will be strong to severe thunderstorms, especially from the Deep South across the Tennessee Valley and into the Appalachians. Some of the storms may produce damaging winds, heavy downpours, and possibly tornadoes. In addition to the severe weather, heavy rain is expected across the Ohio Valley. Widespread rainfall totals of 1-2 inches and locally heavier are expected, resulting in Flood Watches being issued for much of the region.

Severe weather is possible today from the Tennessee Valley into the Appalachians. Image provided by the Storm Prediction Center,

Ahead of the storm, unseasonably warm weather will remain in place today from the Gulf Coast into the Mid-Atlantic states and parts of the Northeast. High temperatures should reach 80 or higher from Washington, D.C. southward, with 70s into the Mid-Atlantic states. Dozens of record highs are expected to be set once again.

Dozens of record highs are likely across the East and South today. Image provided by Weathermodels.com.

Later this week, another low pressure system is expected to develop across the West. It will bring a snowstorm to parts of the Rocky Mountains and into the Plains states. Snowfall totals of 4-8 inches will be widespread, with many locations, especially at the higher elevations, possibly seeing more than a foot. Snowfall has been below normal across the region this year, and parts of the region rely on the snowmelt for water in the spring/summer, so any snow that falls now is welcome.

Moderate to heavy snow may fall across the Rockies later this weekend. Image provided by WeatherBell.

Once it moves away from the Rockies, that system could become a rather potent storm system as it heads eastward. Ahead of the system, heavy rain and possibly more severe weather may impact parts of the Gulf Coast, Deep South, and Southeast towards the end of the week and into the weekend, with heavy snow possible north and west of the system from the Plains states into the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast. There are some indications that it could become rather strong as it moves into the Northeast, with the potential for strong winds across much of the East Coast. This will be something to keep an eye on later this week.

The Week Ahead: February 21-27, 2022

A rather active pattern is expected across the nation during the upcoming week.

The surface analysis doesn’t look busy to start the week, but the pattern will be quite active. Image provided by NOAA.

Low pressure will move into the southern Plains today, heading toward the Great Lakes on Tuesday, then up the St. Lawrence Valley Tuesday night, producing a variety of weather across the eastern two thirds of the nation. As it draws warm and humid air northward from the Gulf of Mexico, it will produce some heavy rain and thunderstorms, some of which could be strong to severe, across parts of southern Plains and Mississippi Valley today and tonight, with the heavy rain and severe weather threat shifting into Deep South and Tennessee Valley on Tuesday. Many areas could see 1-2 inches of rain, with heavier amounts possible, which could lead to flooding in some areas. Unseasonably mild weather is also likely ahead of the storm, with some record highs possible in the Mississippi Valley on Tuesday and parts of the Southeast on Wednesday. A few record highs are also possible in the Northeast during Tuesday and Wednesday and warmer air surges northward ahead of the system.

Severe weather is possible from the Southern Plains into the Mississippi Valley on Monday. Image provided by the Storm Prediction Center

To the north, the storm will produce heavy snow and gusty winds, resulting in near-blizzard conditions at times from the Northern Plains into the Great Lakes over the next couple of days. Snowfall totals of 5-10 inches are possible in parts of the Dakotas today into Tuesday, but in the Great Lakes, many areas could see a foot or more. Once the snow ends, arctic air will settle into the region. Temperatures will drop below zero each night this week across most of the Northern and Central Plains and the Upper Midwest, with record lows possible in many locations. Temperatures will be 20 to 40 degrees below normal through Wednesday before some moderation begins.

Very cold air settles into the Plains States and Midwest over the next several days while warm air moves into parts of the East and South. Loop provided by Pivotal Weather.

Later in the week, we’ll do it all over again. Low pressure will move out of the Southern Plains and toward the Ohio Valley on Thursday, before redeveloping off the Mid-Atlantic coastline. Ahead of the storm, some heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely from the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Deep South and the Mid-Atlantic states, with more record highs possible across parts of the Southeast. The difference this time is with a track farther to the south compared to the early-week storm, the threat for wintry weather will increase from the Ohio Valley into the Northeast. The exact track will determine what areas get all snow and what areas see a mix of snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain, but areas that remain all snow have the potential for 6 or more inches of accumulation.

Another storm will bring a variety of weather to the eastern half of the nation later this week. Loop provided by Tropical Tidbits.

The Week Ahead: February 14-20, 2022

While the pattern will remain quiet for much of the nation to start the week, a significant storm may impact a large portion of the nation later this week with a variety of weather.

A wavy frontal system extends across much of the nation to start the week. Image provided by NOAA.

A low pressure system will bring some rain and higher elevation snow to parts of the Pacific Northwest and the Great Basin over the next day or two, but its biggest impacts will be felt later this week. as it moves into the nation’s mid-section on Wednesday, it will start to draw warm and humid air northward from the Gulf of Mexico. At the same time, a large high pressure area will bring colder air into the Northern Plains. As these airmasses clash, we could see some strong to severe thunderstorms developing ahead of the system. Severe storms are possible across parts of the Southern Plains and Texas late Wednesday, with the severe weather threat shifting into the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on Thursday, reaching the Deep South and the Southeast by Thursday night.

Severe weather is possible across parts of the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Thursday. Image provided by the Storm Prediction Center.

To the north of the storm, a narrow strip of heavy snow is possible from eastern Kansas into the Great Lakes, possibly including the Chicago area. Many locations in this region could see 6 or more inches of snow from storm. Ahead of the storm, heavy rain is likely across the eastern half of the nation during Thursday and Friday. Rainfall totals of 1-2 inches and locally heavier are likely from the Mississippi Valley to the East Coast, with some heavier amounts possible.

Heavy rain is possible across a large portion of the nation later this week. Image provided by Weathermodels.com

In addition to the heavy precipitation, unseasonably warm air is expected ahead of the storm. Temperatures will be 10-20 degrees above normal on Wednesday from the Southern Plains into the Ohio Valley. By Thursday, the warm air shifts to the East Coast, with temperatures likely to be 15-25 degrees above normal from the Southeast and the Ohio Valley into New England, where a few record highs are possible.

A powerful storm system is moving across the Central Pacific Ocean, heading toward Alaska. Image provided by the Ocean Prediction Center.

Meanwhile, up in Alaska, bitterly cold air remains locked in place across the northern half of the state. Temperatures will be 15-30 degrees below normal over the next couple of days. Wind Chill Warnings are in effect along the North Slope and the Arctic Coast, where wind chills of 40-70 below zero are possible today and Tuesday. However, changes are coming. A powerful Pacific storm will approach the state, and although it won’t be as strong as it currently is, it’s main impact will be to dislodge the cold air, and result in a significant temperature rise across the state. By the end of the week, temperatures could be 5-10 degrees or more above normal across a large portion of Alaska.

A significant moderation in temperature is expected across Alaska this week. Loop provided by WeatherBell.

The Week Ahead: January 17-23, 2022

The storm system that has impacted much of the nation from the Plains states to the Southeast over the past few days will move into the Northeast today.

Aside from the low pressure system impacting the East Coast, much of the nation is quiet to start the week. Image provided by NOAA.

Low pressure will move up the Appalachians today and across New England, bringing some heavy rain and strong winds to the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia City to Boston, with heavy snow from the eastern Great Lakes into parts of northern New England. Rainfall totals of 1-2 inches are expected from the Mid-Atlantic states into southern New England this morning and early afternoon. The rain will be accompanied by strong winds. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph are likely across a large swath of the region, with gusts of 50-60 mph expected, especially near the shoreline. With tides at astronomical highs, the onshore winds will help to produce some minor to perhaps moderate coastal flooding, especially from Long Island into eastern New England.

Strong winds are likely across much of the Northeast today. Image provided by WeatherBell.

North and west of the track of the low pressure system, heavy snow is likely, especially across the eastern Great Lakes. Snowfall totals of 12-18 inches and locally heavier are expected from northeastern Ohio into northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. This includes the Cleveland and Buffalo metro areas. Farther east, snow is likely across interior parts of New England, with some places picking up 4-8 inches of snow before a change to sleet, freezing rain and possibly plain rain occurs.

Heavy snow is likely north and west of the storm system today. Image provided by Weathermodels.com

Much of the remainder of the country will remain quiet this week, though another surge of arctic air will impact a large swath of the nation during the latter half of the week. The arctic air will drop into the Northern Plains by Wednesday, where temperatures will be 20 to 40 degrees below normal. As it spreads across the remainder of the eastern half of the nation for Thursday and Friday it will modify a bit, but temperatures will still be 15 to 25 degrees below normal across a wide area.

Another surge of arctic air is expected across much of the nation for the middle to latter half of the week. Loop provided by Pivotal Weather.

The Week Ahead: January 10-16, 2022

A much more tranquil weather pattern is expected across the nation over the next several days.

High pressure dominates much of the nation to start the week, Image provided by NOAA.

Arctic air will move out of the Northern Plains and into the Great Lakes today, then into the Northeast on Tuesday. Temperatures will be 20 to 30 degrees below normal, with a few record low temperatures possible. Subzero low temperatures are likely in much of the Upper Midwest this morning, and across northern parts of New York and New England both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. High temperatures across the Northeast on Tuesday will only be in the single numbers in places such as Albany, NY and Worcester, MA, with teens likely closer to the coast including Boston and New York City. Temperatures should quickly moderate on Wednesday as high pressure slides offshore.

Tuesday morning will be quite chilly across the Northeast. Image provided by Weathermodels.com

A low pressure system will move into the Pacific Northwest for Tuesday into Wednesday. Heavy rain is likely in parts of British Columbia, Washington, and northwestern Oregon. Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches are expected with some heavier totals possible. This will likely lead to flooding in parts of the region. Across the higher elevations of the Cascades, snowfall totals of 1-3 feet are possible.

Heavy rain is likely in parts of the Pacific Northwest over the next few days. Image provided by WeatherBell.

There is one other item we’re keeping an eye on this week. Many of the forecast models are showing the potential for a powerful storm to develop off the East Coast late in the week or next weekend. While the models have not performed all that well beyond 2 or 3 days, the fact that they are all showing something similar increases confidence a little. However, they don’t agree on the rest of the details, including, where the system will develop, how far offshore it will be (if at all), where it will track, how strong it will be, and what, if any, impacts it will have on land areas. We’ll monitor this as the week goes on.

The Week Ahead – January 3-9, 2022

The first snowstorm of the season is expected across the Mid-Atlantic States and stormy weather will continue across the Northwest this week.

A frontal system is draped across the East Coast while another system moves into the Northwest. Image provided by NOAA.

A strong cold front crossed the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Sunday, bringing an end to the mild weather the region had been experiencing. An area of low pressure will ride along the front today, bringing the first measurable snow of the season to parts of the Mid-Atlantic states, with some moderate to heavy snow in parts of the region. Snow will have a significant impact on the morning commute for Washington and Baltimore, and possibly Philadelphia and Richmond as well. The system will be moving along quickly, with snow ending during the afternoon, but a general 5-10 inches is expected from the central Appalachians to the Mid-Atlantic coast, with some heavier amounts possible. The system will also produce some heavy rain from the Tidewater of Virginia into the Carolinas, with a few strong thunderstorms possible as well.

The first snowstorm of the winter will impact the Mid-Atlantic states today. Image provided by Pivotal Weather.

Out West, a stormy pattern will bring a series of low pressure areas into the West Coast over the next several days. Heavy rain is likely along the coast of Washington and Oregon, with rain also spreading southward into northern and perhaps central California. Rainfall totals of 1 to 4 inches and heavier will likely lead to flooding in some areas. Inland, heavy snow is likely across the higher elevations of the Cascades with several feet of snow likely. Snow will also spread into the Sierra Nevada, but the bulk of the snow will stay to the north.

Heavy rain is expected west of the mountains in the Pacific Northwest this week. Image provided by Weathermodels.com

In between, a storm system will bring some snow into parts of the Northern Plains on Tuesday. Amounts shouldn’t be exceptionally heavy, but behind the system, another surge of arctic air is expected across parts of the Northern and Central Plains and the Upper Midwest. While temperatures won’t be anywhere near as cold as they have been over the past several days, temperatures will be 20 to 40 degrees below normal, with many locations likely staying below zero, even during the daytime, during Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday looks like the coldest day for the next surge of arctic air. Image provided by Weathermodels.com

The other item we’ll be watching this week is the potential for another snowstorm in parts of the Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast toward the end of the week. There is considerable disagreement among the forecast models in regards to the evolution of this system and what impacts, if any, it will have of the region, but it has the potential to bring snow to the I-95 corridor from Washington to Boston Thursday into Friday.

The Week Ahead: December 27, 2021 – January 2, 2022

A rather active week is expected across the nation, with heavy rain and snow in the West and the Rockies, record heat and potentially severe weather in the South, and heavy snow and bitterly cold temperatures for the Northern Plains.

A frontal system extended from coast to coast separates unseasonably warm air to the south from colder air to the north. Image provided by NOAA.

Low pressure will move across the Northern Plains and into southern Canada today, with heavy snow across the Dakotas and into Minnesota as well as parts of Manitoba and Ontario. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect on the US side of the border, with Snowfall Warnings on the Canadian side. Snowfall won’t be exceptionally heavy, but many locations will pick up 6-12 inches. gusts of 35-45 mph are possible, which may result in near-blizzard conditions at times. Snow should wind down tonight, but another system passing south of the region on Tuesday may bring more snow into the region.

Moderate to heavy snow is likely over the next few days in the Dakotas and parts of the Upper Midwest. Image provided by Weathermodels.com

Later in the week, bitterly cold air will drop southward from Canada into parts of the Northern Plains and Northern Rockies, as well as the interior Northwest. Temperatures will be 15 to 25 degrees below normal across the interior Northwest, and as much as 20 to 40 degrees below normal in parts of Montana, the Dakotas, and northern Minnesota. Daytime highs will likely stay below zero for several days near the Canadian border, with low temperatures as low as 20 to 30 degrees below zero in parts of Montana and North Dakota.

The GFS shows the clash between bitterly cold air to the north and unseasonably warm air to the south right through the week. Loop provided by Pivotal Weather.

While bitterly cold air settles into the North, unseasonably warm weather is expected across the South. High temperatures will reach the 70s and 80s from Texas to the Southeast over the next several days, which is 20 to 30 degrees above normal. Dozens of record highs are likely to be set across the region.

Low pressure will move into the Mississippi Valley by mid-week. With a warm, humid airmass in place, showers and thunderstorms are likely ahead of the system. Conditions could be ripe for some severe weather Wednesday into early Thursday, especially in parts of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Severe weather is possible across parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Wednesday. Image provided by NOAA.

Meanwhile, out West, heavy rain and snow will continue across the region. With colder air in place, snow was observed right to the coastline in parts of Washington and Oregon on Sunday. The Seattle metropolitan area received 3-6 inches of snow, with 1-2 inches in the Portland area. As the low pressure area that produced the snow moves inland, more snow is likely, especially in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, with rain into the lower elevations of California. Another system will follow right behind, with more heavy rain and mountain snow for the West Coast later this week. Rainfall totals of 1-3 inches and locally heavier will result in flooding in some areas, especially Southern California. Across the Sierra Nevada, snowfall totals of 3 to 6 feet are possible.

Heavy rain is expected across the West this week. Image provided by WeatherBell.

Right now, First Night festivities in New York City shouldn’t have any weather problems. In fact, it looks rather nice for revelers heading to Times Square to watch the ball drop. Right now, it looks like skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures around 40 degrees at midnight Friday night.

The Week Ahead: December 20-26, 2021

As we approach Christmas, a stormy pattern will continue across the West while another warmup is expected in the Plains.

Much of the US is quiet to start the week. Image provided by NOAA.

Rain and mountain snow will continue from the Northwest into the Northern Rockies today as low pressure moves across the region, but drier weather should settle in for Tuesday. After that, a series of low pressure areas will bring heavy rain and mountain snow to much of the West from Wednesday into the weekend. Rainfall totals of 2-4 inches and locally heavier are likely from British Columbia southward to southern California, which will likely lead to flooding in some areas by late in the week. The bigger story will be the snow in the mountains. The snowpack in the Sierra and Cascades is still below normal, but that is likely to change later this week. The potential exists for some places to receive as much as 5 to 10 FEET of snow over the next 7 days. This will result in travel problems crossing the mountains. By the end of the week, as colder air settles into the Northwest, snow is possible at the lower elevations, including the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas.

Heavy snow is expected across the West later this week. Image provided by WeatherBell.

The other thing we’re watching is the return of warm weather to the Southern Plains and parts of the South and East later this week. By the middle of the week, temperatures will be 15 to 30 degrees above normal across the central and southern Plains. That warm will spread eastward, but will be modified a bit as it does so, with well above normal temperatures moving toward the East by the end of the week. A few records are possible across parts of the region. Another burst of warm air may move back into the Southern Plains and Texas next weekend.

Unseasonably warm weather returns to the Plains and the South this week. Loop provided by Pivotal Weather.

Meanwhile, bitterly cold air will build across western Canada this week. Temperatures could be as much as 25 to 50 degrees below normal in many areas later this week. Daytime highs of -30 to -40C are possible in parts of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and northern British Columbia. Some of that arctic air may spill southward into parts of Montana and the Dakotas for Christmas weekend.