Northeast
The lake effect snow machine cranks up today in the Northeast. Lake temperatures are well above average thanks to the persistent above average air temperatures so far this winter, which will help provide the moisture for snow showers throughout the day in some of the snow belts in western New York and Pennsylvania down wind from Lakes Erie and Ontario. Further to the south in West Virginia, western Virginia, and Maryland, an upper air disturbance will fire up some snow showers in the higher elevations of the Appalachians with showers possible across central and eastern Virginia and Maryland. Snow showers will again be possible on Wednesday near the Great Lakes and on the western slopes of the Appalachians. Despite the chance of snow, temperatures will remain at or slightly above seasonal averages through Wednesday. Rain returns to the Northeast Friday and Saturday, as does well above average temperatures.
Midwest
The Midwest will also see snows from the lake effect and an upper level disturbance today, with snow possible across Michigan and eastern parts of Ohio (from lake effect) and eastern Kentucky (from upper level system). There could also be a few snow showers over extreme northern Minnesota. Wednesday will bring a dry day across the region with warming temperatures and winds kicking up, particularly in the Plains. By Thursday, the beginning of the end of the long streak of unseasonably warm conditions starts to make its way into the region. Snow showers will be possible in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains Thursday and Friday, with rain possible (occasionally heavy) over the mid-Mississippi Valley on Thursday, and into the Ohio Valley on Friday and Saturday. By Friday and Saturday, snow and wind could pose some problems over portions of the Central Plains and throughout the Missouri River Valley with much colder temperatures finally filtering into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
South
The South is finally starting to resemble winter-time as far as temperatures go today. Near average temperatures are expected today across the region. In Tennessee and North Carolina, a few showers are possible with snow in the mountains thanks to an upper level disturbance. Most of Florida has a red flag warning for today, due to the increased fire danger from breezy northerly winds and low relative humidity values. Wednesday should be a beautiful day across the region with temperatures near seasonal averages, but winds will start to pick up in the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi River Valley. Rain chances return to the region on Thursday with rain in the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley and along the immediate Southeast Coast. Rain increases in coverage and intensity as the week ends and the weekend starts with thunderstorms becoming a possibility as well. Starting Thursday, temperatures will surge to well above seasonal averages into the weekend before cooler than average temperatures move into Texas on Sunday.
West
The Pacific Northwest, another storm system will be making its way onshore today. This system will help to usher cooler temperatures across the Continental United States through the weekend. Ahead of the front, gusty winds are expected today across the High Plains in Montana where high wind watches are posted. In the Southwest, high winds are possible again today with a red flag warning for portions of Southern California due to the increased fire danger. Precipitation will spread across the interior Northwest on Wednesday and reach the Central Rockies, Wasatch Mountains, and Southwest by Thursday. Wind and snow could pose more problems from eastern Colorado and Wyoming to the Wasatch Front on Thursday and Friday. As the system moves inland, temperatures will nose dive and be well below seasonal averages#downright cold, with highs in the teens and 20s in the Intermountain West#over the weekend.
Bron: The Weather Channel
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