Weekend Weather Preview
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As the weekend gains its footing into February, a couple of cumbersome wintry disturbances revolve into and from the West, all while the U.S. Southern Tier holds dry.
Saturday
Although some showers could linger early into Saturday morning in the Southeast, the rest of February's entrance for the Southern Tier expects to be dry. To the north, 2 to 4-inch snow deposits will build into the Upper Midwest, with up to 6 inches piling in central Minnesota and lighter amounts grazing the periphery. However, the main weather story arises in the nation's Northwest.
As a Pacific Low brushes further into Canada, its associated fronts will sling in bountiful moisture over the Intermountain and Pacific Northwest through Saturday morning and afternoon. Up to 3 feet of snow could pile onto the Sierra Nevada range, while a foot or more builds onto the high peaks of the region and 6 to 10 inches line upper elevations.
Lesser snow totals are expected lower in elevation, with wintry mix intruding upon the Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, significant rain batters central and northern California.
When it comes to highs, the U.S. Southern Tier will see anomalous heat for the season, with 60s and 70s from the Deep South through the Desert Southwest. Pockets of 60s will punch as far north as Nebraska in the Great Plains while 40s and upper 30s widely cool the Lower Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, the Intermountain West, and the rest of the High Plains.
Subfreezing highs will litter the far U.S. Northern Tier on Saturday as 20s and lower 30s aid snow development through the higher elevations of the Northwest. Similar highs will arise in coastal New England and the northern Great Lakes states, but frigid teens and even single digits continue to trumpet the interior Northeast.
Sunday
The Pacific Low from Saturday will dart across the Northern Tier on Sunday, making its way into the Northeast. The cold front associated with this low will remain nearly stationary over the Northwest, northern Rockies and northern Plains.
Light to moderate snow will fall across the Great Lakes in the morning and early afternoon. Snow will then spread to Northeast for the rest of the afternoon and evening. There could even be some freezing drizzle or light freezing rain that mixes in at times.
The higher elevations of the Northwest as well as the northern Rockies will see snow throughout Sunday. Snow could become moderate to heavy at times, especially in the afternoon and evening. The middle elevations will likely see wet snow or a rain/snow mix, with soaking rains expected for the coast, northern California and the lower elevations of the Northwest and northern Rockies.
Wet snow or rain/snow showers will also develop in the northern Plains during the afternoon and evening.
Besides a few showers in Florida, the entire Southern Tier will stay dry under high pressure for the start of the weekend.
The coldest spots on Sunday will be areas right along the U.S.-Canada border from the northern Rockies and Plains into the Northeast. Here, temperatures will rise into the single digits and teens. A few locations will also remain below zero! Expect 20s and 30s for the Northwest, northern Rockies and northern Plains into the Great Lakes and Northeast. Forties and 50s cover the Great Basin and the rest of the Rockies into the central Plains, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
Milder 60s and 70s are in store for the Southern U.S. from California and the Desert Southwest into the Southeast. A few 80s are possible in Texas, with widespread 80s throughout the Florida Peninsula.
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