393
FXUS01 KWBC 180720
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
319 AM EDT Fri Oct 18 2024

Valid 12Z Fri Oct 18 2024 - 12Z Sun Oct 20 2024

...Heavy snow expected for the central and southern Rockies
through Saturday...

...Heavy rain expected for the western High Plains on Saturday
ahead of an upper low over the Four Corners region...

...Sunny and pleasant conditions for much of the Eastern U.S.
through the upcoming weekend...

A weather pattern change is in progress across the Western U.S. as
an amplified upper trough supports the passage of a strong cold
front across the Intermountain West.  This will result in
widespread mountain snow across the higher elevations of the
Rockies on Friday, and persisting into Saturday across the
mountainous terrain of the Four Corners region as an upper level
low develops.  The potential exists for 10-20 inches of snow
across portions of Utah and Colorado, mainly above 9000 feet
elevation.  It will also be turning considerably colder compared
to the recent warm weather that most of the Western U.S. has
experienced so far this month.  Highs will only be in the 40s and
50s for most valley locations to close out the work week and going
into Saturday, and below freezing at night.

With the upper level low developing over Arizona, there will be a
plume of increased moisture advection across eastern New Mexico
and portions of adjacent states that will likely result in
enhanced rainfall going into Saturday, where a Slight Risk of
excessive rainfall is currently depicted in WPC`s outlook.  The
potential exists for 2-4 inches of rainfall here, and this could
result in some instances of flooding.  Some strong to severe
thunderstorms will also be possible.  Another area of enhanced
rainfall will be across western Washington, where an atmospheric
river event will likely affect Vancouver Island and the Olympic
Peninsula, producing a few inches of rainfall across the windward
terrain.

Elsewhere across the continental U.S., a sprawling surface high
will be anchored in place across the Eastern U.S. and will govern
the overall weather pattern through the upcoming weekend.  The
result will be sunny skies across a wide expanse of this region,
and pleasantly mild conditions during the day and cool at night.
There will be a moderating trend with temperatures compared to the
recent cold spell earlier this week, and highs are expected to be
above normal for many areas with readings well into the 70s from
the Midwest to the Northeast states.  The downside is the
developing short term drought conditions for much of this region,
with no rainfall expected through early next week.

Hamrick


Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php


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