National Weather at 630pm November 20 2004

[Jeb]

Rainy weather in South, New storm developing in the Southwest

6:34 P.M. ET 11/20/2004

 

James Wilson, Sr. Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

 

 

West

A vigorous weather disturbance, which has been advertised for a couple of days, will swing down through Southern California and eastern Arizona on Sunday and slow down dramatically. Since the storm is very dynamic a few rumbles of thunder are possible as the system evolves and gathers over the Four Corners. The higher elevations of the Southwest will have snow and some thundersnow that will result in locally heavy accumulations for the White Mountains of Arizona, including Flagstaff to the southwest mountains of Colorado into northern and central New Mexico. The ski resorts in these regions will do well before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Gusty winds and much cooler temperatures will accompany the storm through the Southwest on Sunday. High pressure will dominate much of the Great Basin and Northern California keeping the skies mostly sunny with offshore wind in Central and Northern California. Onshore flow will bring clouds and showers into the Pacific Northwest on Sunday keeping temperatures in the 40s west of the Cascades and the 30 east of the Cascades.

 

South

A wet and mild weather pattern is taking shape in the South for the short term. A strong jet stream streaming over the South will bring moisture laden air to the region via the Pacific Ocean. A weak frontal boundary oscillating across the South will work in tandem with moisture to create an environment ripe for rain and thunderstorms from Texas to Georgia. On Sunday, a steady rain is forecast along the I-10 corridor from Houston to New Orleans. Rain will also spread north along the I-20 corridor into the Atlanta metro area and stick around through Sunday. In Texas, where greater instability exists on Sunday, thunderstorms are forecast with isolated severe storms a possibility. There were reports of hail in storms on Saturday in central Texas. Heavy rain, frequent lightning, small hail, and gusty winds will be the primary threats againa from storms that erupt in Texas on Sunday. Temperatures in the South will remain warm and run about 5 to 10 degrees above average on Sunday. Look for highs in the 80s from South Florida to South Texas, the 70s from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the Rio Grande, with widespread 60s from Virginia to the Pecos River in Texas. Rain, thunderstorms, and mild temperatures will persist in the South and Southeast through the middle part of the holiday week. For this reason localized flooding could become a problem from Texas to Mississippi. Be cautious as you plan your travel through the South through early Wednesday.

 

Midwest

A weather disturbance will move out of Colorado overnight pulling moisture northward bringing rain and snow to western portions of the Great Plains. High pressure building into the Midwest will limit the northeastward propagation of the precipitation on Sunday. Western Nebraska, western Kansas, and the Panhandle of Oklahoma will remain wet and cold on Sunday. As the high builds to into the Midwest cooler temperatures will return along with some breaks in the nearly constant cloud cover. The Midwest will be dry on Sunday from the Great Lakes through the Ohio River Valley into the Upper Midwest. Rain and snow showers will expand in coverage on Monday as the next big weather system begins to take aim on the Midwest on Tuesday. Lows on Sunday will return average levels with 30s from the Great Lakes to Kansas, the 20s from Wisconsin to Nebraska and a few teens in the Dakotas. Temperatures will warm into the 50s in the Ohio River Valley, the 40s from Lake Michigan to central Kansas, with only the 30s from the arrowhead of Minnesota to western Kansas. A very large storm will move into to the Midwest on Tuesday and will bring rain, snow, and wind.

 

Northeast

Dreary, murky weather will continue in New England and sections of the Northeast on Sunday. A few breaks in the clouds and dampness is forecast for Monday. A lingering storm will leave showers and a few snow showers in the higher mountains of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in the forecast for Sunday. Farther south in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and the Del-Mar-Va cloudy to mostly cloudy skies will prevail but with warmer temperatures then on Saturday. East of the Appalachians highs will warm into the upper 50s and low 60s from Long Island to Philadelphia. The west side of the Appalachians will have highs in the lower 50s and upper 40s. By Tuesday night into Wednesday a major storm will begin to impact the Northeast with wind, rain, and even some thunderstorms. Be prepared if you are driving or flying during the Thanksgiving Holiday, especially on Wednesday.