Weather Outlook for the U.S. for Today Through at Least 22 Days and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted November 9, 2024
This article focuses on what we are paying attention to in the next 48 to 72 hours. The article also includes weather maps for longer-term U.S. outlooks (up to four weeks) and a six-day World weather outlook which can be very useful for travelers.
First the NWS Short Range Forecast. The afternoon NWS text update can be found here after about 4 p.m. New York time but it is unlikely to have changed very much from the morning update. The images in this article automatically update.
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Nov 09 2024
Valid 12Z Sat Nov 09 2024 – 12Z Mon Nov 11 2024…Widespread, potentially significant flash flooding possible in central
and southwestern Louisiana today……Showers and thunderstorms will bring heavy rain and the risk for flash
flooding to the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee/Ohio Valleys this
weekend……Atmospheric river to arrive across the Pacific Northwest on Sunday with
heavy coastal rains and high elevation snowfall...…Above average temperatures continue for much of the country this
weekend…A significant flash flooding event is anticipated today ahead of a low
pressure system/cold front moving eastward towards the Mississippi Valley
this morning that will slow and eventually stall as ridging builds
northward over the eastern U.S. Strong southerly flow ahead of the front
will continue to bring a fetch of deep, very moist air associated with
Tropical Storm Rafael northward over the region. Numerous showers and
thunderstorms producing very heavy downpours (rain rates 1-2″+ per hour)
are expected along and ahead of the front from the Lower Tennessee
Valley/Mid-South southwestward into the Lower Mississippi Valley and the
western Gulf Coast. A concentrated risk of locally significant heavy
rainfall totals of 3-6″, locally 10″, and widespread instances of flash
flooding is expected ahead of the front closer to the Gulf over
central/southwestern Louisiana, where a High Risk of Excessive Rainfall
(level 4/4) is in effect. A broader Slight Risk (level 2/4) covers the
rest of the region for more scattered instances of flash flooding. The
front will make some progress eastward Sunday, especially with northern
extent, bringing the heavy rainfall threat further eastward across the
Ohio and Tennessee Valleys while lingering through the Lower Mississippi
Valley. However, the more progressive nature of the front/storm movement
as well as a decreasing fetch of moisture should limit the flash flood
threat to a few isolated instances. While this moisture streaming
northward from Rafael will influence the threat for heavy rain, the storm
is located far offshore over the Gulf of Mexico and forecast by the
National Hurricane Center to remain offshore and dissipate over the next
few days.Outside of this heavy rainfall threat, an expanding area of showers and
thunderstorms is forecast ahead of the low pressure system and an arcing
occluded/cold front lifting northeastward across the northern Plains,
Midwest, and Mississippi Valley on Saturday with some moderate amounts
possible. Some moderate snow may linger over portions of the central
Rockies in Colorado after a historic snowstorm the past couple days,
though most snow will have tapered off this morning as the low moves away.
The low pressure system/front will continue eastward on Sunday, bringing a
broad area of beneficial rainfall to the Northeast after weeks of little
to no precipitation. Showers and thunderstorms are also expected in
vicinity of a wavy frontal boundary along the coastal Southeast/Florida
this weekend. Elsewhere, an initial system pushing inland over the Pacific
Northwest will continue to bring moderate to heavy showers for lower
elevations with some very high elevation snow Saturday, and a wintry mix
and higher elevation snow spreading into the northern Rockies by Sunday
morning. Then, during the day Sunday, a stronger system and accompanying
Atmospheric River will begin to bring heavier rain with an isolated chance
of flooding to the Pacific Northwest, expected to last over the next
several days.Most of the country will continue to see above average temperatures this
weekend outside of portions of the central/southern Rockies and High
Plains on Saturday, though temperatures will begin to recover here as well
by Sunday. Forecast highs will generally be in the 50s from the Pacific
Northwest east through the northern Rockies/Plains, Great Lakes, and into
New England; the 50s and 60s in the Great Basin, central Plains, Midwest,
and Mid-Atlantic; and the 70s and 80s in the Southwest, Texas, and the
Southeast. Aforementioned cooler temperatures in the 40s and 50s over the
central/southern Rockies and High Plains will moderate by 10 degrees or so
for most locations by Sunday.