NOAA Updates its Weather Outlook for May 2024 – A Lot of Changes from the Mid-Month Outlook – Posted May 1, 2024

At the end of every month, NOAA updates its Outlook for the following month which in this case is May of 2024. We are reporting on that tonight.

There have been some significant changes in the Outlook for May and these are addressed in the NOAA Discussion so it is well worth reading.  We provided the prior Mid-Month Outlook for May for comparison. It is easy to see the changes by comparing the Mid-Month and Updated Maps.

The article includes the Drought Outlook for May. NOAA also adjusted the previously issued Seasonal (MJJ) Drought Outlook to reflect the changes in the May Drought Outlook. We have included a map showing the water-year-to-date precipitation in the Western States. We also provide the Week 2/3 Tropical Outlook for the World.  We also include a very interesting ENSO Blog Post.

The best way to understand the updated outlook for May is to view the maps and read the NOAA discussion. I have highlighted the key statements in the NOAA Discussion.

I am going to start with graphics that show the updated Outlook for May and the Mid-Month Outlook for May. This is followed by a graphic that shows both the Updated Outlook for May and the previously issued three-month outlook for MJJ 2024. So you get the full picture in three graphics.

Here is the updated Outlook for May 2024.

For Comparison Purposes, Here is the earlier Mid-Month Outlook for May.

It is important to remember that the maps show deviations from the current definition of normal which is the period 1991 through 2020.  So this is not a forecast of the absolute value of temperature or precipitation but the change from what is defined as normal or to use the technical term climatology.

It is not totally changed from what was issued on April 18, 2024, but there have been some significant changes. Remember, it is the first set of maps that are the current outlook for May.  One expects some changes  12 days later. However, the changes to the May Outlook are significant.  This then gives us some reason to question the (April 18, 2024) three-month MJJ temperature and precipitation Outlooks which are shown in the following graphic.

NOAA provided a combination of the Updated Outlook for May and the Three-Month Outlook. It was attractive but not easy to look at the difference between the current month and the three-month period that includes the current month. So I created my own. It is a little rough.

The top pair of maps are again the Updated Outlook for the new month. There is a temperature map and a precipitation map. The bottom row shows the three-month outlooks which include the new month. I think the outlook maps are self-explanatory.

To the extent that one can rely on a forecast, we would conclude that June and July will be very different than May, especially for temperature. You can basically subtract May from the three-month Outlook and divide by two to get a combined June-July Outlook.

Some readers may need to click “Read More” to read the rest of the article.  Some will feel that they have enough information. But there is a lot more information in the rest of this article.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted May 1, 2024

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Wed May 01 2024
Valid 12Z Wed May 01 2024 – 12Z Fri May 03 2024

…Severe Weather and Excessive Rainfall concerns for parts of the
Central/Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley…

…Critical Fire Weather potential over portions of the Southern High
Plains today…

…Cool and snowy in the Northwest; above average temperatures continue
across much of the Central and Eastern U.S….

The month of May kicks off with severe weather and excessive rainfall
threats over the Central U.S.. A developing low pressure system over the
Central High Plains of Colorado will contribute to the initiation of
scattered to isolated thunderstorms across the Great Plains today. The
Storm Prediction Center issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of Severe
Thunderstorms over parts of southwest Kansas into northwest Oklahoma this
afternoon into the evening. A few tornadoes, very large hail and damaging
winds are expected for the broader Central/Southern Plains region. The
surface wave will lift into the Central Plains this evening and support
enhanced rain rates over parts of northern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and
western Iowa, where a Slight Risk (at least 15%) of Excessive Rainfall is
in effect. Thunderstorms (some potentially severe) originating from a
dryline in the Southern High Plains will grow as they propagate into a
very moist environment in central and eastern Texas today. Given the
saturated soils from recent heavy rainfall, a Moderate Risk (at least 40%)
of Excessive Rainfall is in effect for portions of eastern Texas in
between the Dallas and Houston metros this evening. Elsewhere, showers and
thunderstorms should wrap up this afternoon across the Carolina/Southeast
coast.

Severe storms and excessive rainfall threats shift into the Mississippi
Valley on Thursday as the low pressure system moves into the region.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will proliferate across the
Central/Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley, where a Slight Risk of
Excessive Rainfall is in effect. The MCS associated with tonight’s
excessive rainfall threat will shift into the ArkLaTex region Thursday
morning. An upper trough anchored over the Northwest will support below
average temperatures across the region for the next few days. With cold
air in place, an embedded shortwave impulse will contribute to high
elevation snow across the Cascades and Northern Rockies. Between 6-12
inches of snow is forecast to accumulate with isolated higher amounts most
likely over northwestern Montana by Friday morning. Temperatures will
remain above average, for the most part, across the eastern half of the
country through Friday before a cold front moderates things a bit heading
into the weekend.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 30, 2024

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Tue Apr 30 2024
Valid 12Z Tue Apr 30 2024 – 12Z Thu May 02 2024

…Severe Weather and Excessive Rainfall concerns for parts of the
Upper/Middle Mississippi Valley and Great Plains through mid-week…

…Critical Fire Weather potential over portions of the Southern High
Plains on Wednesday…

…Cool and snowy in the Northwest; warmer across the Central and Eastern
U.S….

A pair of low pressure systems will bring showers and thunderstorm
activity to parts of the Central and Eastern U.S. respectively today. The
Central U.S. system will progress quickly through the Plains and into the
Upper/Middle Mississippi Valley today/tonight. The Storm Prediction Center
issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of Severe Thunderstorms for parts of
the Middle Missouri Valley into the Central Plains for this
afternoon/evening where very large hail, severe wind gusts and a few
tornadoes are expected. Some storms may produce heavy rain with high
rates, which is why a Slight Risk (at least 15%) of Excessive Rainfall
leading to Flash Flooding is in effect for parts of southeastern Kansas
into northeastern Oklahoma. Another area of low pressure is forecast to
develop out of the Southern Plains, and generate another round of storms
across the Plains and Mississippi Valley on Wednesday. SPC issued another
Enhanced Risk of Severe Thunderstorms over much of central Kansas and
northern Oklahoma while we have a broader Slight Risk of Excessive
Rainfall extending from northeastern Texas up into eastern Nebraska and
much of Iowa. A few tornadoes, very large hail and damaging winds are
possible from any severe storms that occur.

Meanwhile, a slow moving mid-level low anchored over the Northwest will be
the reason why they experience below average temperatures over the next
few days. Embedded shortwave energy will support high elevation snow for
the Cascades and Northern Rockies, where snowfall accumulations will be in
the general range of 6-12 inches with isolated higher amounts possible by
Thursday morning. An amplifying ridge over the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast
will support above average temperatures across most of the eastern third
of the country over the next several days. Strong southerly flow into the
Plains beneath the right exit region of the upper trough will promote
warming across the region over the next few days. Lee cyclogenesis will
contribute to dry and windy conditions across portions of the Southwest
and Southern High Plains, which will support a Critical Risk of Fires on
Wednesday.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 29, 2024

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Mon Apr 29 2024
Valid 12Z Mon Apr 29 2024 – 12Z Wed May 01 2024

…Severe Weather and Flash Flooding concerns shift into the Lower
Mississippi Valley today…

…High-elevation snow is forecast to overspread the Pacific Northwest
into the Northern Rockies Monday and Tuesday…

…Warmer than average temperatures spread from Midwest to Mid-Atlantic;
colder weather returns to the Northern Plains and the Pacific Northwest
with warming trend across the central/southern High Plains…

Fortunately, the worst of the heavy rain and thunderstorms should be
behind us by this evening. The complex of storms responsible for Flash
Flood emergencies over parts of eastern Texas overnight, are forecast to
move through southeastern Texas and southern Louisiana today. The Storm
Prediction Center has a Marginal Risk (level 1/5) out for parts of
southern Louisiana due to the threat of severe wind gusts and hail. We
issued a Slight Risk (at least 15%) of Excessive Rainfall leading to Flash
Flooding for much of central/southern Louisiana for today due to the
potential for high rain rates in that aforementioned line of storms.
Meanwhile, snow showers are likely to develop over the higher elevations
of the Northwest this morning and continue into early this evening before
tapering off. Another round of snow showers are expected to occur on
Tuesday afternoon/evening over the same area beneath another upper-level
disturbance. Snowfall on the order of 6-12 inches with isolated higher
amounts are forecast to accumulate over parts of the Cascades and Northern
Rockies by Tuesday morning.

An organized low pressure system will spread showers and thunderstorms
across the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley on Tuesday. The Storm
Prediction Center issued a Slight Risk (level 2/5) of Severe Thunderstorms
for parts of eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, northwest Missouri, eastern
Kansas, southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota on Tuesday with a
risk of very large hail, severe wind gusts and a few tornadoes being the
primary threats. Downstream of this, scattered to isolated showers and
thunderstorms will move through the Ohio/Tennessee Valley and into the
East Coast on Tuesday. The Excessive Rainfall Outlook remains Marginal (at
least 5%) for those areas at this time.

Temperature-wise, upper troughs propagating through the Northwest and
Northern Plains/Upper Midwest will keep things cooler than average today.
Things warm up a bit across the Central U.S. up into the Upper Midwest on
Tuesday. Temperatures will be well above average across much of the East
Coast this week with today being the warmest of the bunch. There’s a
chance for several stations in the Mid-Atlantic to tie or break high and
low temperature records today and tomorrow with highs in the 80s to low
90s and lows in the 50s and 60s.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 28, 2024

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sun Apr 28 2024
Valid 12Z Sun Apr 28 2024 – 12Z Tue Apr 30 2024

…More rounds of excessive rainfall and severe weather expected to push
eastward into the Lower Mississippi Valley today and Monday…

…High-elevation snow is forecast to spread inland from the Pacific
Northwest into the Northern Rockies on Monday…

…Warmer than average temperatures spreads from Midwest into Mid-Atlantic
today while well below average temperatures shift from the Four Corners
and Rockies into the Northern Plains…

More active and unsettled weather is forecast to continue across the
mid-section of the country through the remainder of the weekend into
Monday. Multiple disturbances embedded within a slow-moving upper-level
trough responsible for the active weather are currently developing another
low pressure system over the Central Plains. Today, the main area of
thunderstorms will push farther eastward toward the Mid and Lower
Mississippi Valley with a slightly lower threat of severe weather than
Saturday. Meanwhile, the heaviest rains should push farther southeast into
the ArkLaTex region as the trailing cold front associated with the low
pressure system begins to weaken. The center of the low is forecast to
track northeast across the Central Plains on Sunday, reaching into the
upper Midwest on Monday. Strong to locally severe thunderstorms can be
expected to extend northeast across these areas including the Midwest
ahead of a warm front to the east of the low pressure center. Meanwhile,
the threat of heavy rain will push farther southeast into the Lower to
Mid-Mississippi Valley as the cold front pushes eastward. There’s are
Slight Risk (at least 15%) of Excessive Rainfall leading to Flash Flooding
over portions of the eastern Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley
today and extending into just the Lower Mississippi Valley/central Gulf
Coast on Monday. The Storm Prediction Center issued an Enhanced Risk
(level 3/5) of Severe Thunderstorms across portions of the eastern
Southern Plains and Middle/Lower Mississippi Valley today.

Elsewhere, another low pressure system will begin to move away from the
Great Lakes into Canada with scattered showers ending over the Upper Great
Lakes but continuing from the Lower Great Lakes into New England. Strong
southerly flow behind a high pressure system will bring very warm air
northward into the East Coast through the next couple of days with high
temperatures climbing well into the 80s to possibly near 90 degrees for
the interior Mid-Atlantic. These temperatures will be in contrast to the
cool temperatures expected for the Pacific Northwest by Monday as the next
upper-level trough from the Pacific is forecast to push inland. This
trough will bring widespread high-elevation snow and lower elevation rain
across the Pacific Northwest toward the Northern Rockies on Monday with
increasingly windy conditions as a low pressure system begins to develop
over the Northern High Plains into southern Canada.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

The North American Monsoon (NAM) – Posted on April 27, 2024

In this article, I am presenting information from the National Weather Service and some other parts of NOAA on the North American Monsoon (NAM) which really is the Sonoran Monsoon but we wanted to have our own so we appropriated it. When the Sonoran Monsoon leaks into the U.S. it is called the NAM. The quoted material is indented and my comments are in boxes.

Yes and no.  Yes, it is a season not a single storm. Tucson NWS is Monsoon Headquarters and they had criteria for determining when the Monsoon started and stopped but it was felt that these were too complicated for Americans so they changed to a calendar start and stop time which works well.

The starting point for understanding the NAM or pretty much anything in Meteorology is to think about the time of the year. In the winter, the prevailing westerlies and the jet stream dominate weather in the CONUS. In the summer they still have an impact but other mechanisms can come into play.  No time in this article to explain it but the ITCZ moves to the north.

I would like to add that the differential heading of land and water in Mexico causes moist air to rise creating thermal low which kind of shoves the high north of it to the north. The mountains also play a role in sometimes blocking air flows and uplifting air masses which causes precipitation. It is quite complex but we are going to simplify it a bit in this article.

This map shows the percentage of annual precipitation that arrives during the Monsoon Season.  You can see that the NAM is very important to  Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas,  Western Texas, and the small part of Southeast California. But it is important to many other states as well. It may not provide a disproportionate part of their annual precipitation but a good monsoon versus a poor monsoon has an impact on many states.  As you can see, it is even more important to Mexico.

There are more than four types but these are the main ones.  We will go into detail on each of them in the body of this article. But it is really simple when you think about a high being clockwise and a low being counterclockwise.  Where you have a low west of a high, the air will be shuttled to the north from Mexico. So first look for the position of the main high-pressure area. Then look for where the low is. You will be able to figure out which way the wind will be blowing. If it is coming from where moisture is, it is likely to rain.

Some readers will need to click on “Read More” to get to the body of the article.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 27, 2024

Accuweather Southern Plains Tornado Update HERE.

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
400 PM EDT Sat Apr 27 2024

Valid 00Z Sun Apr 28 2024 – 00Z Tue Apr 30 2024

…More rounds of excessive rainfall and severe weather expected to push
eastward across the southern Plains tonight reaching into lower
Mississippi Valley on Monday…

…Snow over central Colorado gradually tapers off tonight but
high-elevation snow is forecast to spread inland from the Pacific
Northwest into the northern Rockies on Monday…

…Critical Fire Weather Risk over portions of the Southern High Plains…

…Warmer than average temperatures spreads from Midwest into Mid-Atlantic
on Sunday while well below average temperatures shift from the Four
Corners and Rockies into the Northern Plains…

More active and unsettled weather is forecast to continue across the
mid-section of the country through the remainder of the weekend into
Monday. Multiple disturbances embedded within a slow-moving upper-level
trough responsible for the active weather are currently developing another
low pressure system over the central Plains. Showers and thunderstorms
are expected to erupt in the warm and unstable air ahead of the low
pressure system east of a dry line from northern Texas through central
Oklahoma into eastern Kansas. A moderate risk of severe weather is
forecast through tonight per the Storm Prediction Center with the
possibility of large hail, damaging winds and multiple tornadoes. In
addition to the severe weather, intense rainfall rates are expected to
accompany these thunderstorms at times, leading to a moderate to locally
high potential of flash flooding to occur in these areas through tonight.
By Sunday, the main area of thunderstorms will push farther eastward
toward the mid- and lower Mississippi Valley with a slightly lower threat
of severe weather. Meanwhile, the heaviest rains should push farther
southeast into the ArkLaTex region as the trailing cold front associated
with the low pressure system begins to weaken. The center of the low is
forecast to track northeast across the central Plains on Sunday, reaching
into the upper Midwest on Monday. Strong to locally severe thunderstorms
can be expected to extend northeast across these areas including the
Midwest ahead of a warm front to the east of the low pressure center.
Meanwhile, the threat of heavy rain will push farther southeast into the
lower to mid-Mississippi Valley as the cold front pushes eastward.

Meanwhile, snow on the backside of the low pressure system is forecast to
gradually taper off tonight over central Colorado, and so will the areas
of mixed rain/snow extending into the Four-Corners as the system moves
farther away into the central Plains. Meanwhile, another low pressure
system will begin to move away from the Great Lakes into Canada with
scattered showers ending over the upper Great Lakes but continuing from
the lower Great Lakes into New England. Strong southerly flow behind a
high pressure system will bring very warm air northward into the East
Coast through the next couple of days with high temperatures climbing well
into the 80s to possibly near 90 degrees for the interior Mid-Atlantic.
These temperatures will be in contrast to the cool temperatures expected
for the Pacific Northwest by Monday as the next upper-level trough from
the Pacific is forecast to push inland. This trough will bring widespread
high-elevation snow and lower elevation rain across the Pacific Northwest
toward the northern Rockies on Monday with increasingly windy conditions
as a low pressure system begins to develop over the northern High Plains
into southern Canada. Meanwhile, dry and warm winds sinking down the
southern Rockies will continue to keep a critical fire weather risk over
the southern High Plains.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 26, 2024

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Fri Apr 26 2024
Valid 12Z Fri Apr 26 2024 – 12Z Sun Apr 28 2024

…An active weather pattern for much of the Plains into the Mid to Upper
Mississippi Valley regions…

…Thunderstorms to bring heavy rain, localized Flash Flooding and Severe
Weather to portions of the Plains…

…An elevated to Critical Fire Weather threat across the Southern High
Plains…

..Cooler than average temperatures expected from the Rockies to the West
Coast and from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast, while much above average
temperatures spread from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes…

A dynamic weather system is poised to bring significant weather impacts
across the Plains extending into the Mid-to-Upper Mississippi Valley
regions this weekend. This system will usher in a variety of weather
phenomena including thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and even severe weather
conditions. Thunderstorm activity is forecasted to intensify across
portions of the Plains, particularly in areas extending from the Southern
Plains to the Great Lakes. These storms are likely to bring heavy
rainfall, increasing the risk of localized flash flooding in low-lying and
urban areas. There’s a Slight Risk (at least 15%) of Excessive Rainfall
leading to Flash Flooding over portions of eastern Oklahoma and
northeastern Texas into western Arkansas and southern Missouri today.
Another system emerging from the Rockies will bring the focus for heavy
rainfall and severe storms back over the Southern Plains on Saturday.
There’s a Moderate Risk (at least 40%) of Excessive Rainfall over central
to northeastern Oklahoma on Saturday. Furthermore, some of these storms
may turn severe, with the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and
isolated tornadoes. To that end, the Storm Prediction Center issued an
Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of Severe Thunderstorms over portions of eastern
Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa
today Another Enhanced Risk area was issued across parts of southern Iowa,
eastern/central Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, northwestern Missouri,
central Oklahoma and north-central Texas for Saturday as another system
spawns another round of storms for the Central U.S..

While thunderstorms pose a threat to some areas, the Southern High Plains
face an Elevated to Critical Fire Weather threat through this weekend. Dry
and gusty conditions, coupled with low relative humidity levels, will
create favorable conditions for the rapid spread of wildfires. Outdoor
burning is strongly discouraged, and residents should exercise extreme
caution to prevent the ignition of fires. A cooler air mass will settle
over regions stretching from the Rockies to the West Coast and from the
Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast. Temperatures are forecasted to remain below
average for this time of year. Conversely, a swath of much above average
temperatures is expected to encompass areas from the Southern Plains to
the Great Lakes. Daytime highs will soar, potentially reaching
unseasonably warm levels. Meanwhile, unsettled weather, including
rain/snow showers and scattered to isolated thunderstorms are expected to
spread across much of the West through Saturday.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

Today Through the Fourth Friday (22 to 28 days) Weather Outlook for the U.S. and a Six-Day Forecast for the World: posted April 25, 2024

It is difficult to find a more comprehensive Weather Outlook anywhere else with the ability to get a local 10-day Forecast also.

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 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 but it is unlikely to have changed very much. The images in this article automatically update.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Thu Apr 25 2024
Valid 12Z Thu Apr 25 2024 – 12Z Sat Apr 27 2024

…Unsettled weather and severe thunderstorm chances will continue to
expand across much of the central United States over the next several
days…

…Increasing risk of flash flooding across parts of central and eastern
Oklahoma Saturday night…

…Active fire weather pattern to emerge over the southern High Plains
today…

An increasingly active weather pattern is beginning to unfold across the
mid-section of the Nation as an upper-level trough from the subtropical
eastern Pacific nears Baja California and the Southwest. This trough is
expected to interact with warm and moist air returning from the Gulf of
Mexico and produce an expanding area of showers and thunderstorms
gradually lifting north of a warm front. The initial stages of
rain/thunderstorm formation are setting up across the central Plains early
this morning. A greater severe weather threat is expected to expand across
the central Plains this afternoon as a surface cyclone rapidly deepens in
eastern Colorado in response to the approaching upper level trough. The
aforementioned warm front is expected to continue lifting northward while
a High Plains dryline pushes east. This environment is anticipated to
produce numerous thunderstorms across the central and southern Plains,
with scattered storms turning severe. The Storm Prediction Center has
issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for severe weather across parts of
western Kansas and Oklahoma into the eastern Texas Panhandle and northwest
Texas. Very large hail, severe wind gusts, and a couple strong tornadoes
will all be possible. Multiple rounds of heavy rain could also lead to
scattered flash flooding, which has prompted a Slight Risk (level 2/4) of
Excessive Rainfall across parts of northeast Oklahoma, eastern Kansas,
southwest Missouri, and northwest Arkansas. By Friday, the low pressure
system is forecast to deepen and slide northeast across the central Plains
before eventually reaching the upper Midwest on Saturday morning. This
will spread shower and thunderstorm chances eastward into the upper
Midwest, mid- and lower Mississippi Valley, as well as the southern
Plains. The greatest severe weather threat to end the week is forecast
across parts of the central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley, where an
Enhanced Risk of severe weather includes parts of southwest Iowa,
southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, and northwest Missouri. This severe
weather threat includes the possibility of a few tornadoes, large to very
large hail, and damaging winds. Isolated to scattered instances of flash
flooding are also possible across much of the Mississippi Valley into the
southern Plains on Friday.

No breaks from Mother Nature to start the weekend as another round of
severe weather and possibly a dangerous flash flood threat impacts parts
of the central/southern Plains. After the initial system progresses into
the Upper Great Lakes, a lingering frontal boundary is expected to stretch
into the central Plains on Saturday, along with a southern High Plains
dryline. Meanwhile, the western U.S. trough is anticipated to reload due
to an approaching shortwave from the northeast Pacific. This setup is
forecast to produce another round of strong to severe storms Saturday
evening, with several thunderstorms expected to move slowly over parts of
central and eastern Oklahoma. This creates a situation likely to lead to
numerous instances of flash flooding and is highlighted by a Moderate Risk
(level 3/4) for Excessive Rainfall, with a Slight Risk spanning from
north-central Texas to southern Iowa. Residents and visitors across the
central U.S. over the next several days are urged to remain weather aware,
have multiple ways to receive warnings, and never drive across flooded
roads.

Behind the dryline across the southern High Plains, the combination of
very low relative humidity and gusty winds are expected to raise fire
danger to critical level through this weekend. Any fires that develop will
likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Additionally,
gusty winds up to 60 mph could lead to areas of blowing dust.

Elsewhere, unsettled weather is expected to persist over the West, Great
Basin, and Rockies over the next few days with the passage of the upper
trough. Precipiation is expected to remain mostly light, with embedded
downpours and high-elevation heavy snow by Friday across the Rockies. The
Northwest should be the wettest region across the West as a Pacific low
pressure system moves onshore. The Coastal Ranges as well as the Cascades
could receive a couple of inches of rainfall with heavy wet snow possible
across the higher elevations. This active weather will also accompany a
cooling trend throughout the West in contrast to the recent spring warmth
across the region. Chilly weather is also forecast across the Northeast
and Mid-Atlantic through the end of the week as high pressure builds
southward from Canada. Low temperatures could dip below freezing on this
morning and have prompted Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories to be
issued from the Midwest to southern New England. Most of the above average
warmth will be found throughout the Plains outside of areas experiencing
prolonged periods of rainfall, with highs into the 80s remaining across
the Southern Tier States into Friday. Above average warmth will also begin
to spread eastward into the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley by
Saturday with highs into the upper 70s and low 80s.

To get your local forecast plus active alerts and warnings click HERE and enter your city, state or zip code.

Learn about wave patterns HERE.

Then, looking at the world and of course, the U.S. shows here also. Today we are looking at precipitation.

Please click on “Read More” below to access the full Daily Report issued today.

North Central Drought from an Agriculture Perspective – Posted April 24, 2024

Of course, they will worry about drought in the North Central area because drought at the beginning of a growing season can be problematic. The beginning of the growing season is a very critical time. It seems that they do not have to worry about a late start this year. But an early start has its own problems. Weather can be fickle.

Although this webinar focuses on the North Central states, many of the maps cover the entire 48 states in CONUS so there is something for everyone in this report. I did not comment on every slide as there were a lot of them. But where I commented, my comment is in a box. If you watch the full webinar (I provided the link) you get their commentary and the Q&A which was good.

You can see the large number of much above-average temperature states. Many of these were in the North Central area.

The North Central had average to slightly above normal precipitation.  It was very wet in the Northeast.

Jan to March shows a similar situation but more states were above average or much above average.

This shows the El Nino pattern but not dramatically wet except in the Northeast.

Many readers will need to click on “Read More” to access the remainder of the report which is very interesting.