Weather

Severe weather, excess moisture ahead for parts of the Heartland

Looking ahead, a storm system currently approaching the Pacific Coast will dominate the nation’s weather headlines for the remainder of the week. The storm will produce beneficial precipitation in California before reaching the Intermountain West by mid-week. During the second half of the week, the storm will drift northeastward from the central Rockies into the Great Lakes States. Thunderstorms along the storm’s trailing cold front could become severe on April 8-9 from the eastern Plains into the mid-South and lower Midwest. In addition, 5-day rainfall totals could reach 1 to 3 inches across parts of the mid-South and Midwest. Similar amounts can be expected early in the week across coastal and mountainous areas of northern and central California. In contrast, warm, dry, windy conditions will lead to an enhanced risk of wildfires for much of the week across the southern High Plains and the Southwest. Elsewhere, chilly conditions—along with occasional snow—will linger across the nation’s northern tier.

The 6- to 10-day outlook calls for near- to above-normal temperatures nationwide, with the greatest likelihood of warm weather across the lower Southeast. Meanwhile, near- to-above-normal precipitation across the majority of the U.S. will contrast with drier-than-normal conditions across northern portions of the Plains and Intermountain West.

5-Day Precipitation Totals

NOAA’s 6- to 10- Day Outlook

NOAA’s 8- to 14- Day Outlook