Nat'l Weather (8:45pm) October 13 2004

[Jeb]

Storm system set to take shape in the South

8:47 P.M. ET 10/13/2004

 

Kevin Roth, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

 

 

 

South

Low pressure is expected to develop along the Gulf Coast near New Orleans during the day on Thursday, then race off to the northeast Thursday night. This storm should spread rain and showers across the western Gulf Coast states during the day Thursday. On Thursday afternoon and Thursday night as the system develops, the rain and showers are expected to develop into heavy thunderstorms, especially along the eastern Gulf Coast. Severe weather in the form of damaging wind and tornadoes will be possible across southern Alabama, southern Georgia and northern Florida Thursday night. Farther north a blustery band of showers should march into the southern Appalachians. Temperatures ahead of the storm should be on the mild side Thursday with highs ranging from the upper 60s to the lower 80s from north to south. It should be chillier behind the storm with highs in the upper 50s to middle 60s over the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. Friday should be blustery and cool across much of the South as the storm moves away from the region.

 

Northeast

An old weakening storm system should blanket much of the Northeast with clouds and light showers on Thursday. Temperatures should be close to where they should be for October with highs in the 50s in the mountains to near 70 at the coast. A rapidly moving storm system is expected to move through the region Friday bringing a quick round of wind-driven rain. Behind the storm it should turn windy and colder with lake-effect rain showers for the weekend.

 

Midwest

A clipper type system is forecast to move along the Canadian border with the northern Plains Thursday. There is enough cold air in some locations to cause a mix of rain and snow showers along the storms path. No accumulation of snow is expected. Winds may gust in excess of 40 mph over Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota during the day Thursday. Clouds, showers and chilly air should make for a miserable day across southern parts of the Midwest Thursday. Winds are expected to increase over the whole region Friday as a storm system blows through the eastern Great Lakes. Any shower activity due to the storm should be confined to the Great Lakes area Friday.

 

West

A ridge of high pressure is in charge of the western part of the country west of the Rocky Mountains. This high should continue to provide mostly sunny skies and pleasantly warm temperatures into Friday. Fire danger levels should remain high through Friday due to the sunny, dry and warm conditions. The ridge should break down over the weekend beginning a cooling trend from north to south. Showers should return to the Northwest over the weekend once the ridge breaks down.