Weather

Weather pattern to remain quite active into next week; added drought relief for the West, Plains

A series of Pacific disturbances will maintain cold, unsettled conditions in parts of the West. Notably, southern California will endure unusually harsh conditions Friday into Saturday, with heavy snow, high winds, and isolated severe thunderstorms.

Late in the weekend and early next week, the storm currently affecting California will cross the central and southern Plains before traversing the Midwest.  Impacts from that system may include drought-easing precipitation across the southern half of the Plains and heavy rain or wet snow in the Corn Belt.  Yet another Western storm will follow, with additional rain, snow, and wind overspreading areas west of the Rockies early next week. 

Only a few areas, including the northern Plains and the Deep Southeast, will remain mostly dry during the next 5 days.