A
low pressure system spinning in the northern U.S. was forecast to keep pushing a cold front toward the East Coast. The system was expected to continue kicking up scattered showers over the Great Lakes, while the front was expected to move into New England and the Northeast, also triggering light rain by evening.
This front has a history of producing severe weather over the Ohio River Valley and Mid-Mississippi Valley including damaging winds, large hail, and even tornadoes. As this front is expected to remain relatively stationary, sitting over the Ohio River Valley and into the Mid-Mississippi River Valley, these areas were expected to see another wet and stormy day.
At the same time, just to the west, another low pressure system was forecast to move off the Rockies and to strengthen as it reached the Plains. This is expected to combine with the energy of the front to the east, allowing for a higher chance that these storms will turn severe. Active weather from the Upper Midwest to the Mid-Mississippi River Valley and into the Northeast was expected.
To the south, a low pressure at high levels in the atmosphere was forecast to continue spinning over the Gulf of Mexico. This system was expected to push moisture onshore and bring another round of afternoon showers and thunderstorms to the Gulf states. Due to warm and humid conditions, these storms could be severe.
Further west, another trough of low pressure was expected to move onshore over the Pacific Northwest by Saturday evening. This was forecast to bring yet another round of scattered showers to the region, but were expected to remain to the north. At the same time, a ridge of high pressure was building over the Southwest. This was expected to allow for a warming trend and plenty of sunshine with highs reaching into the 100s in many areas.
Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a low of 33
degrees at Fourchon, La., to a high of 107 degrees at Pecos, Texas.
