Spring gave us a little preview yesterday, but today is a reality check! Yesterday’s warmth is gone—temperatures today are 15-30 degrees colder than Tuesday. Expect highs in the low 40s across southern New England, with 30s in northern New England (20s far North Country). A weak disturbance will bring some mixed rain and snow showers tonight with minimal accumulation and some isolated slick travel possible.
National Weather Summary
A series of active weather systems continue to impact the country as the western U.S. deals with a potent storm bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and mountain snow. A weak atmospheric river event will affect California, with Southern California seeing the greatest flood risk, particularly in urban areas and terrain-prone regions such as Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. Heavy snowfall is also expected across the Sierra Nevada, with accumulations of 1-3 feet, leading to hazardous travel conditions.
As this system moves eastward, severe weather becomes a growing concern across the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley. Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, where large hail and damaging winds will be the primary threats. A cold front associated with this system will continue pushing east on Thursday, bringing thunderstorms into the Southeast.
Meanwhile, fire weather concerns persist across portions of the Southern Plains, where strong winds and dry conditions will contribute to an elevated wildfire risk.
Across the central and eastern U.S., above-normal temperatures dominate as warm air continues to surge northward ahead of an approaching trough in the West. Highs in the 70s and 80s will be common across the Plains, the Midwest, and the Southeast, while portions of Texas may approach the mid-90s. However, New England will experience a cooldown as a cold front moves through, bringing temperatures down into the 30s and 40s, along with scattered rain and snow showers.
Northeast Weather Story
A cold front came through New England overnight and has ushered in a much cooler air mass, leading to a notable drop in temperatures compared to recent days. Highs will generally range from the mid-30s in northern New England to the mid-40s in southern areas, with a breezy northerly wind making it feel even cooler.
While the day will start off dry with some sunshine, clouds will gradually increase from the west as a weak disturbance approaches. This system will bring the chance for scattered light rain and snow showers tonight into early Thursday, particularly across upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts. Accumulations will be light, generally a dusting to an inch in the higher elevations, but could lead to some locally slick travel conditions overnight.
Thursday will remain on the cooler side with highs in the 40s, though cloud cover will persist for much of the day due to lingering low-level moisture. However, a significant warming trend will begin by Friday and into the weekend, with temperatures surging well into the 50s and 60s by Saturday and Sunday.
The warming trend, combined with increasing moisture and an approaching storm system, will lead to widespread snowmelt, particularly in northern New England where snowpack remains. By late Sunday into Monday, a strong frontal system will bring heavy rain and potentially strong winds, increasing concerns for river flooding and ice movement on waterways. This will be a system to watch closely as details become clearer.
For now, enjoy a couple of cooler but generally quiet days before much more active weather returns for the weekend and early next week.