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Minnesota.  Maine.  Upstate New York.  The Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Practically anywhere in Idaho.  And, of course, the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These are the places where weather history suggests you want to be if you're looking for the best chance of a white Christmas. The map below shows the historic probability of there being at least one inch of snow on the ground in the Lower 48 states on December 25 based on the 1981-2010 U.S. Climate Normals from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.  Dark gray shows places where the probability is less than ten percent, while white shows probabilities greater than 90  percent. These probabilities are useful as a guide only to show where snow on the ground is more likely.  So while the map shows the climatological probability that a snow depth of at least one inch will be observed on December 25, the actual conditions this year could vary widely from these probabilities.  That’s because whatever the actual weather pattern is that’s in place leading up to Christmas will be what really determines the snow on the ground or snowfall on Christmas Day.  With that in mind, the map below shows the actual snow cover across the United States as of December 17. This current snow cover is much more widespread than would typically be seen in mid-December across the country.  This is in large part due to the much below-normal temperatures that have been experienced across the country the last couple of weeks.  These below-normal temperatures have meant that in most cases, when there has been snowfall, it has stuck around, as temperatures have stayed below freezing much of the time in the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast.  So the snow cover has built up in these regions, as well as across the mountains of the western part of the U.S.  With about a week to go before Christmas Day, there will be some up and down swings in the temperatures the next week or so, with much of the eastern United States likely warming up somewhat later this week into the weekend, only to likely turn colder again towards the beginning of next week.  While that will obviously impact the current snow cover to some degree, how much is hard to tell.  How much of the snow will melt, how cold will it get next week, and will there be more snow in the days leading up to Christmas?  Answers to these questions will determine who gets a white Christmas this year. So what’s the bottomline?  Well, regardless of what the historical averages say, there is always hope.  Just a couple of years ago there was actual snowfall across parts of Texas on Christmas Day, for the first time in a long time.  That said, if you’re located in Arizona, Texas, Georgia, or Florida, and you want to have a decent shot at a white Christmas, you better plan a road trip.  If you’re in Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Pittsburgh, or Hartford, you probably have a pretty good chance at seeing the frosty flakes falling this holiday season.  Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, Rochester, Buffalo, or Manchester?  If that’s where you’re spending Christmas,  your White Christmas wishes have a very good chance at coming true. Whether or not there is snow in your Christmas future, here’s wishing everyone Happy Holidays! ... View more

The busy Thanksgiving travel week is here, and this year it looks like the weather will largely cooperate and provide only minimal impacts across the country. By and large it will be dry and mild over the eastern half of the country in the days leading up to Thanksgiving Day, with any precipitation that does occur very light and spotty.  A weak system will start to move into the center of the country later in the week, bringing some scattered showers to the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast towards next weekend……but there will be limited moisture and thus only scattered rain showers are expected, with no significant winter precipitation.   In the West, mild and mostly dry in the Southwest and S. Cal (including PHX, LAS, SAN, LAX, DEN), with the majority of the wet weather occurring across the Pacific Northwest through the week, dipping down into N. Cal for a day or so Tuesday night & Wednesday.  Here are some weather highlights for the upcoming holiday travel week: In the Northeast & Mid Atlantic, most of the week will be dry and mild, with the first chance of showers coming next weekend (BWI, PHL, EWR, LGA, BOS). For the Southeast & Florida, a great week ahead, with most days also looking dry and mild, with only some isolated showers in parts of Florida in the Tuesday-Wednesday timeframe. In the Midwest, including MDW, some scattered light showers will move through on Monday night and again possibly on Thanksgiving Day, but the bulk of the week will be precipitation-free, with above normal temps, until it cools down somewhat next weekend. Across Texas and the southern Plains, scattered showers possible starting on Thanksgiving Day, with a better chance at picking up some much needed rainfall moving into next weekend (HOU, AUS, SAT, DAL). Nice weather through the week in the Southwest and S. Cal (LAX, SAN, PHX, LAS, DEN).  Northern California will see some rain Tuesday night into Wednesday, with the bulk of the wet weather occurring in the Pacific Northwest (PDX, SEA, GEG), with rain and windy conditions at those locations much of the week.  Have a wonderful (short) week and a great Thanksgiving holiday!  This information is not intended for dispatching purposes ... View more

Well it looks to be another active weather week, as a couple of storms will dominate the weather across the country this week.  The two separate systems will split the country about in half as far as where and when the active weather ends up during the week.  The first half of the week will be dominated by a weather system that will move across the Southeast and then up into the Northeast, becoming another coastal storm mid week.  The good news is this system will be a few notches below what Hurricane Sandy was regarding the amount of impact in the Northeast.  That said, it will bring another dose of rain, wind, and general unpleasantness to a region that surely doesn’t need it. That system will zip off the coast and out to sea by Friday, leaving a very nice weekend for much of the east.  Things will then be reversed, as the next storm moves into the west on Thursday night and especially Friday into next weekend.  After a warm and dry first half of the week, the west will get its turn with cooler temps, periods of rain across California into the Southwest, and snow showers at the inter-mountain stations.  By Sunday this system moves into the center of the country, likely bringing a round of strong T-storms with it into the Midwest and the Plains. Here are this week’s weather highlights for various regions: The coastal storm discussed above will cause Northeast impacts on Wed-Thu, with rain & low ceilings, gusty winds, and some inland snow mixed in as well.  While there could be some light accumulations at a couple of stations, we are not currently expecting this to b a significant snow producer for any of our stations…the rain & windy conditions will be the main issues (PHL, EWR, LGA, ISP, BWI, DCA, IAD, BOS, BDL, MHT, PVD, PWM). Those are the only days this week with any significant weather expected. For the Southeast & Florida, showers on Monday & Tuesday; otherwise a great week is expected thereafter (ATL, BHM, MSY, CHS, MCO, TPA, PBI, FLL, PNS, ECP). Rain at MDW Tuesday, with scattered showers also expected across the Great Lakes, and some snow showers also mixed in.  Then the next system from the west moves in next weekend.   A good part of the week looks to be quite nice (MDW, MKE, DSM, IND, SDF, CLE, CAK, CMH, DAY, GRR, FNT, DTW, PIT, BUF, ROC). Scattered showers & storms across the south part of Texas to start the week Monday, mainly at HOU, followed by several very nice days.  By next weekend the western system is likely to bring a round of T-storms to the area (AUS, SAT, HOU, DAL, OKC, TUL). Out west across CA and the Southwest, great weather the first half of the week.  Then by Thursday night there’s a chance for showers across most of CA, with increasing coverage of rain on Friday into Saturday.  It will also be breezy and cool across the region next weekend, with scattered rain showers at LAS & PHX, and snow showers at places including RNO, SLC, & GEG.  Have a tremendous week! If you have any questions, please email the Meteorology-DG. ... View more

It’s looking to be quite an active weather week ahead as the first significant fall/winter storm of the season moves across the western states early in the week, bringing substantial snow to the mountains and even potentially some light snow to places like RNO and GEG. Then by late week, some of the energy from that system will merge with a cold front to form another storm over the middle of the country. After a very mild early and mid week for many locations east of the Mississippi River, the late-week system will cause a cold front to sweep across and drive the temperatures way down heading into next weekend, bringing rain and some T-storms as well. There also will be several rounds of scattered showers & T-storms the first half of the week in the Midwest, Plains, and Great Lakes. Lastly, this is where we’d like to keep saying all is quiet in the tropics. However, this week we do have some activity in the Caribbean, as Tropical Depression #18 has formed to the south of Jamaica. This is expected to become Tropical Storm Sandy very soon, and possibly approach hurricane strength in a couple of days. Current forecast tracks have it moving slowly north toward Jamaica and then up into the eastern Bahamas, before it then moves to the northeast, which would mean away from the U.S. We will be monitoring this system closely throughout the week for any potential impacts to Southwest or AirTran stations. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Increasing chances for showers across far south Florida as the week goes on, as the tropical system will likely bring moisture into that area (FLL, PBI, EYW). Very nice the majority of the week across the rest of Florida. Some scattered showers around NYC up into New England Tue-Wed, but by and large nice weather much of the week from the Mid Atlantic up into the Northeast, with the next chance of showers coming next weekend (EWR, LGA, ISP, BOS, MHT, PVD, BDL, BWI, IAD, DCA, PHL, ORF, RDU, RIC). An up-and-down week across the Midwest and Great Lakes. Very mild with scattered showers and T-storms Monday, and then a couple of dry and seasonal days. By Thursday and Friday, next system brings widespread showers and some T-storms, followed by a push of much colder air and scattered showers over the weekend, possibly mixed with some snow at a few locations (MCI, MDW, MKE, GRR, FNT, DTW, CLE, CAK, PIT, IND, STL). A couple of chances for showers and storms across the South Plains. One on Monday, and then again ahead of a strong cold front on Friday into Saturday (HOU, AUS, SAT, DAL, TUL, OKC). Some snow looks quite possible at DEN in the Thu-Fri timeframe, as the cold air moves down across the Rockies and meets up with moisture left over from the western storm system. Wet and windy the first half of the week across Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of the intermountain west, with occasional showers Mon-Thu (SFO, OAK, SJC, SMF, RNO, SLC, BOI, GEG, PDX, SEA). California dries out late week, with some snow showers possible at GEG and BOI. This information is not intended for dispatching purposes. ... View more

A definite chill was in the air across much of the country this past weekend as the first real cool spell settled in.   Many locations had their first frost and/or freezing temperatures of the season. This week will see a rebound in temps back to normal or even above normal levels in many locations, along with frequent weather systems zipping across the country, bringing rain and some thunderstorms to many locations, including the southern Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Florida, and the Northeast.  There will even be a rather good chance for some rainfall across California and the Southwest, as a strong upper level system moves inland mid-late week.  All continues to be quiet in the tropics as well, as we now head for the latter portion of the season, which runs through the end of November. Here are this week’s weather highlights: For the Northeast, wet to start the week, with frequent rounds of rain starting Monday evening through about Wednesday, with a nice end to the week into next weekend  (BWI, PHL, EWR, LGA, DCA, IAD, ISP, BOS, BDL, MHT, and PVD). Good coverage of showers and thunderstorms will last through about Tuesday across Florida, before things return to more seasonal norms with just isolated showers or storms the second half of the week. A couple round of showers across the Midwest and Great Lakes this week, one about mid-week, and then another towards next weekend. (MDW, MKE, DSM, IND, SDF, CLE, CAK, CMH, DAY, GRR, FNT, DTW, PIT, BUF, and ROC). It will warm back into the 80’s this week across the Plains, but along with that will come the chance for scattered thunderstorms, with increasing coverage in the Plains and Mississippi Valley starting about Thursday, with daily chances then continuing through next weekend (DAL, OKC, TUL, ICT, MCI, STL, BKG, STL, and LIT). A large storm system will settle into the Southwest mid-late week then slowly drift out toward the Plains by the weekend.  This will bring a decent chance for some rain to most of California about Wednesday-Thursday, then to the Southwest (including PHX and LAS) the second half of the week. Have a wonderful week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

We are moving through mid-September, and it’s becoming more noticeable that Autumn is starting to take over for Summer in terms of the weather patterns. Weather systems are beginning to become stronger and more organized than they tend to be during the Summer, cold fronts are now moving across the country more frequently, and as a result temperatures are taking bigger drops in much of the country as each front passes by. For instance, a strong weather system with an associated cold front will be moving across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and Southeast the first few days of this week.  It will be bringing widespread showers and T-storms, some heavy rain, and possibly even some severe weather in the form of strong winds. In its wake, a couple days of very cool weather will follow, with below normal temperatures likely in each of these regions. Meanwhile on the flip side, it will be warm to hot out west, as the region sees little to no precipitation this week. Also, we are more than half way through the hurricane season, and there are currently no tropical systems either active or expected that would pose any threat to Southwest or Air Tran. Here are this week’s weather highlights: For the Northeast, it looks to be an active day on Tuesday, with numerous showers and some T-storms expected, possibly containing strong and gusty winds. Heavy rain also is a good bet up and down the Eastern Seaboard on Tuesday, possibly into the first half of Wednesday (BWI, PHL, EWR, LGA, DCA, IAD, ISP, BOS, BDL, MHT, PVD). The earlier-mentioned cold front will move through the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley from Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening, with showers and some scattered T-storms possible along and ahead of the front. Locations in these regions, including MDW, will likely receive some impacts as the system moves through (MDW, MKE, MCI, DSM, STL, IND, SDF, CLE, CAK, CMH, DAY, GRR, FNT, DTW, PIT, BUF, ROC). Another round of much cooler temps will then follow. A soaking rain event across the Southeast, mostly on Monday and Tuesday, with numerous showers and T-storms across the area (ATL, BHM, BNA, MEM, LIT, MSY, JAN, GSP, CLT, CHS). Once the system exits the region, it looks much more quiet the second half of the week. In the West, a warm and dry week ahead, with little to no precipitation expected, and very warm temperatures, including at LAS, PHX, and DEN. The week looks mostly dry and mild across Texas as well, with very little chance for any precipitation, including at HOU, AUS, SAT, and DAL. Have a fantastic week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

This week we will see a little bit of a break in the extremely hot weather much of the nation has experienced the last few weeks, with things more typical, which will still be quite warm as we move through August.  There will also, of course, be thunderstorms mixed in, and in some places hopefully they will bring some much needed rainfall.  Also for the first time in a while we have activity in the tropics, as both Ernesto and Florence are moving about in the Caribbean and Atlantic, respectfully.  Further information on these tropical systems is included below. Here are this week’s weather highlights: In the Midwest and Great Lakes, a great start to the week with mostly sunny conditions, pleasant summer temperatures, and dry conditions.  By mid-late week, a front will move into these areas, bringing with it the return of scattered thunderstorms (MDW, MKE, MSP, MCI, IND, SDF, DTW, CLE, CMH, DAY, CAK, FNT, GRR, PIT, and BUF). A wet week ahead for much of the Southeast and Florida, with scattered to numerous showers and storms the first couple days of the week.  Later in the week, a chance for daily scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue (MCO, TPA, RSW, PBI, PNS, ECP, JAX, FLL, MSY, ATL, BHM, BNA, GSP, CHS, CLT, and RDU). For the Northeast down into the Mid-Atlantic, there will be a couple of great days early-mid week, with cooler temperatures mostly in the 80s, and mostly dry conditions.  Then by Thursday, the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely return, and that chance will last into next weekend (EWR, LGA, PHL, BWI, IAD, DCA, BOS, ISP, HPN, BDL, MHT, PVD, and ALB). We’ll see somewhat of a break in the daily monsoon we have been seeing the last few weeks out west, with only isolated afternoon thunderstorms expected at LAS, PHX, and DEN through the week, and most of the time it looks mostly dry and rather hot. Tropical Storm Ernesto has been moving from east to west across the Caribbean this weekend, and is currently expected to move into the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico early Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane.  The good news is that it has not yet impacted any Air Tran stations, and is also expected to remain south of CUN, with minimal impacts expected.  Tropical Storm Florence is well out in the Atlantic, and has already weakened back down to a tropical depression.  This system will likely become a remnant tropical wave in the next day or two. Have a fantastic week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

We’re getting to the part of summer that could definitely start qualifying as the “dog days,” with heat and humidity continuing to be major factors across much of the country.   The occasional relief that comes to the northern states is usually accompanied by thunderstorms, and that will indeed be the case this week.  Unfortunately, both the Midwest, including MDW, and the Northeast, including BWI, PHL, EWR, LGA, and BOS, will be favored regions for seeing active thunderstorms that will likely cause some air traffic disruptions.  Meanwhile the summer monsoon is in place out west, with daily chances for thunderstorms, including PHX. Here are this week’s weather highlights: In the Midwest and Great Lakes, (MDW, MKE, MSP, MCI, OMA, DSM, IND, DTW, CLE, CMH, DAY, CAK, FNT, GRR, PIT, and BUF), frequent rounds of thunderstorms, especially the first half of the week.  It will also be hot in these areas, with temps in the 90s to near or above 100 degrees to start the week, with a bit cooler conditions by late week. Across the southern and central Plains, only a few isolated to widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms, otherwise mostly dry this week (OKC, TUL, ICT, DAL, AUS, and SAT).  A slightly better chance of some afternoon thunderstorms will exist down along the Gulf Coast (HOU, MSY). In the Northeast, there will likely be several days this week with a rather high potential for showers and thunderstorms.   It currently looks as if Mon-Tue, and then Thu-Sat will be the most favored timeframes for periods of active weather (EWR, LGA, PHL, BWI, IAD, DCA, ISP, HPN, BDL, MHT, PVD, and ALB). A tropical wave will bring an increase in showers and thunderstorms to much of Florida the first couple days of the week, before a return to typical isolated afternoon thunderstorms mid to late week (MCO, TPA, RSW, SRQ, PBI, FLL, ECP, PNS, and JAX). The summer monsoon season has fully kicked in across the west, with daily chances for afternoon and evening thunderstorms at most western stations, including LAS, PHX, ABQ, ELP, and TUS, along with isolated afternoon thunderstorms around DEN. Have a tremendous week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.  ... View more

Well, it was a record-breaking stretch of hot weather that impacted the eastern half of the country last week and this past weekend, with many records broken, including quite a few all-time record high temperatures.  Thankfully, the heat wave has been broken, with much more seasonal temperatures across the East and Midwest this week.  It will also be mostly dry from New England westward into the Great Lakes and Midwest, with most of the showers and thunderstorms this week in the Southeast, Florida, and the southern Plains. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Looks like much of Texas will get some much needed rain the first few days of the week.  Good coverage of showers and thunderstorms through about mid-week, with some heavy rain also possible (HOU, AUS, SAT, DAL, CRP, AMA, LBB, and MAF).  An added bonus will be that temps will also be a bit below normal much of the week with the rain and clouds around.  After a record-breaking week of hot temperatures in the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast, relief has come in the form of some great summer weather this week (MDW, MKE, MSP, OMA, MCI, STL, IND, CMH, DAY, CLE, CAK, DTW, FNT, GRR, PIT, BUF, ROC, ALB, BOS, BDL, PVD, and MHT).  Temperatures mostly in the 80s during the day, 60s at night, and mostly dry conditions through at least late week.  Enjoy! It will be cooler as well from NYC south to the BWI-DC area, but with some isolated showers and thunderstorms possible from time to time through the week, as a front will be stalled out just south of the area.  However, even with that chance, most of the time it will be dry through late week.  A better chance of precipitation comes next weekend (EWR, LGA, PHL, BWI, IAD, DCA, ISP, and HPN). Across the Southeast down into Florida, above normal coverage of scattered showers and thunderstorms looks likely through most of the week into next weekend, as a front stays stalled across the area for several days (ATL, BHM, HSV, BNA, MEM, LIT, JAN, MSY, GSP, CLT, MCO, TPA, RSW, SRQ, PBI, FLL, EYW, ECP, PNS, and JAX). The hot weather will be out west this week, especially early and mid-week, with high temps in the 111-115 degree range at PHX and LAS, and 100-105 degrees at places including SLC, RNO, BOI, and SMF.  Also, after some welcome rain this past weekend, DEN will have a good break from any thunderstorms for a few days during the early-to-middle part of the week. Have a wonderful week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

Well, the main story lines for weather this week will be about Tropical Storm Debby and the heat that has been and will continue to be in place across much of the country.  Debby formed over the weekend and is in the northern Gulf of Mexico, moving only very slowly toward the NE early in the week.  Latest forecasts have Debby going towards north Florida, but also weakening due to wind shear and dry air, which is good news.  What she will still bring is plenty of rain to Florida, and possibly too much in some spots (more on Debby below).  Elsewhere, minimal precipitation is expected across other parts of the country this week, as a heat wave keeps its grip on many locations.  The heat will bring near or above 100-degree temps to the Southern Plains, the Southwest, parts of the Mountain West, the Southeast, and eventually the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley as well, later in the week. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Isolated to scattered showers with some thunderstorms can be expected from NYC on up into New England on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a nice couple of days later in the week, with moderate summer temperatures (LGA, EWR, ISP, HPN, PVD, BOS, BDL, MHT, and ALB). After thunderstorms and a cold front move through the BWI-DC-PHL areas on Monday, expect much improved conditions for Tuesday through Thursday, with rather comfortable temperatures as well.  The next chance of precipitation looks to be about next weekend (PHL, BWI, IAD, and DCA). Tropical Storm Debby continues in the northern Gulf of Mexico.  The good news is that the forecast has Debby remaining below hurricane strength through its life cycle, and, in fact, the intensity is expected to remain unchanged or even decrease some through the week.   The forecast track takes Debby into the far north Florida peninsula on or about Thursday.  While there will be gusty winds at times, occasionally reaching 30-35 knots at some Florida stations over the next few days, overall the storm is not expected to cause a large scale disruption.  That said, there is the threat for isolated tornadoes across the Florida peninsula, as well as the potential for heavy rain accumulation over the course of the week (TPA, MCO, SRQ, and JAX). Some isolated afternoon thunderstorms are possible in the Southeast and South Plains this week, but they will be few and far between where they do occur, as temps remain quite hot across these areas (BNA, LIT, MEM, BHM, HSV, MSY, JAN, HOU, CRP, HRL, AUS, SAT, DAL, OKC, and TUL). Hot temperatures will also be frequent in the west and the central Plains, eventually spreading towards the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley areas later in the week (DEN, SLC, PHX, TUS, LAS, AMA, LBB, MAF, ICT, MCI, OMA, DSM, MDW, STL, BKG, IND, CMH, DAY, and SDF). Have a great week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

The week ahead is shaping up to be rather wet, especially the first half, including some potentially beneficial rainfall across Texas, Florida, and other parts of the south.  The Northeast will also see scattered showers the first few days of the week, with thunderstorm chances also increasing by mid-week.  Windy with some blowing dust in the Southwest on Monday and Tuesday, and active thunderstorms around DEN look likely a few days this week as well. Here are this week’s weather highlights: For the DC-BWI-PHL-NYC corridor, unfortunately it looks like several days with the possibility for scattered showers and a few thunderstorms, from Monday through about Thursday (BWI, IAD, DCA, PHL, EWR, LGA, ISP, and HPN).  Currently it does not appear likely that any of these days will produce the type of severe weather that occurred last Friday in the DC-BWI area. A cool and damp start to the week in New England, with showers off and on through about Thursday, and below normal temperatures, before drier and milder weather next weekend (BOS, MHT, PVD, BDL, and ALB). Some needed rain appears in store for both Texas and Florida this week, as the combination of a stalled out frontal boundary and an unseasonably strong upper level storm system combine to provide daily chances for showers and storms.  While it won’t rain all the time, each day from Tuesday through about Friday will see decent rainfall chances for much of TX (HOU, AUS, SAT, DAL, AMA, and LBB) and FL (MCO, TPA, RSW, SRW, PBI, FLL, JAX, ECP, and PNS). In the Southeast, there will also be plenty of thunderstorm chances, again most frequent during the first half of the week, including at ATL, BNA, LIT, MEM, BHM, HSV, MSY, JAN, GSP, CHS, and CLT. Last but certainly not least, at DEN it looks like there may be a few days with some active thunderstorms in the area, primarily in the Monday through Thursday timeframe. Have a great week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

A very warm week lies ahead for most of the nation, and while it will start out rather wet in some areas, the latter part of the week into next weekend should be dry for much of the country.  A slow moving system will be bringing widespread rain with some embedded thunderstorms to most of the East Coast through mid-week.   Further south, thunderstorms will be scattered across the Southeast, Florida, and back across south and west Texas, as well.  Meanwhile, mostly dry and warm to hot across the west, with PHX seeing several straight days with 100+ degree temperatures this week. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Widespread showers with some embedded thunderstorms will be common from the Mid Atlantic, up to the PHL and NYC area, and into New England for the early to the mid-part of the week.  Some heavy rain totals will be likely as this will be a slow moving system (BWI, IAD, DCA, PHL, LGA, EWR, ISP, HPN, ABE, MDT, PVD, BDL, BOS, MHT, ALB, and PWM).  The good news is that as ugly as the beginning of the week looks in these regions, it should dramatically improve and be very nice from Thursday through next weekend. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in south Texas on into the Southeast, mainly early to mid-week (AUS, SAT, HOU, CRP, HRL, ATL, GSP, RDU, CLT, and CHS), with mostly dry and mild weather expected late week and next weekend.  While coverage is not expected to be that high, there will be a couple of chances for some isolated strong thunderstorms in the upper Midwest and Great Lakes (including at MDW, MKE, GRR, FNT, and DTW), on about Tuesday, Thursday, and possibly next weekend.  Even with these chances, it appears much of the week will be dry in these regions. Somewhat active in Florida this week, with scattered coverage of thunderstorms expected on most days (MCO, TPA, RSW, SRQ, FLL, PBI, MIA, EYW, JAX, ECP, PNS). Hot to start the week in the Southwest, with PHX, TUS, and LAS at or above 100 degrees for high temps through mid-week. Have a terrific week! This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.  ... View more

As we move into May this week, things will be fairly active across much of the country, with plenty of showers and thunderstorms in the Midwest, Plains, Great Lakes, and Northeast.  South Florida also will remain uncharacteristically wet the first half of the week, while from much of the Southeast, into Texas, and west to the Southwest & California, it will be very warm and mostly dry.  Compared with last week when cool to cold temperatures were the rule across the northern half of the country, it will be above normal in most locations this week, with temperatures more like early June in many cases. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Showers and some thunderstorms across the Northeast on Tuesday, and they will stick around for a few days.  Occasional rounds of showers and storms are likely through about Thursday or even Friday from NYC down toward the BWI-DC area (LGA, EWR, PHL, BWI, IAD, DCA, ISP, HPN, ABE, and MDT). For the upper Midwest into the Great Lakes, it looks rather mild, but also quite active the entire week, with frequent periods of showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be severe.  This will include locations such as MDW, MKE, MSP, DSM, IND, DAY, CLE, DTW, and PIT. Also quite wet in south Florida, as a persistent onshore flow has already brought some heavy rain to the area this past weekend, and that will continue through about mid week (FLL, PBI, MIA, and EYW). Very nice weather for much of the Southeast back into Texas and into the Southwest, with above-average temperatures all week, and only some isolated afternoon or evening thunderstorms possible, and most places won’t see much precipitation at all for the week.  This includes places such as ATL, DAL, HOU, AUS, ABQ, LAS, and PHX. This information is not intended for dispatching purposes. ... View more

After a very active weekend of severe weather, which saw many significant tornadoes across the Plains and Midwest, things are in the process of transitioning to a calmer pattern for much of this week.  However, during the transition to this less active pattern, there will still be plenty of strong winds and maybe a few more severe storms to contend with on Monday.  Once we get into the middle part of the week, there will only be a small area (the coastal Southeast) with a chance for severe weather, while many locations across the country, including the Northeast, Florida, and Texas across to California, will all enjoy very pleasant conditions.  By next weekend, there will be a return to a chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the eastern half of the nation. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Widespread showers and thunderstorms will impact the Texas Gulf Coast to start the week.  Heavy rain and possibly some strong storms will affect HOU, CRP, HRL, and eventually MSY on Monday and Tuesday. As this past weekend’s strong storm system moves into the Midwest and Great Lakes, it will be very windy in these areas on Monday.  Westerly winds will be gusting to 30-40 knots, and in some cases, possibly even higher (MDW, MKE, IND, DAY, CMH, CLE, CAK, GRR, DTW, FNT, PIT, BUF, ROC). Scattered showers and thunderstorms will accompany a cold front as it moves slowly east into the Ohio Valley and the Southeast the first half of the week.  This will likely bring some impact to ATL at times during the Monday-to-Wednesday timeframe, with additional scattered showers and thunderstorms expected next weekend as well. Expect very nice weather for the Northeast, from the BWI/DC area up into NYC and New England through the work week, before some isolated to scattered showers and storms impact the region next weekend. Mostly clear conditions and warming temperatures will prevail through the week from west Texas, across the Southwest, and into California.  By the end of the week, high temperatures at PHX will likely approach 100 degrees for the first time this season! Enjoy the week! If you have any questions, please e-mail the Meteorology-DG. This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

As we move into April, there’s definitely a spring-like feel to the weather pattern, as there will be plenty of thunderstorms around this week, especially in the central & southern Plains, Midwest, and the Southeast.  We’re also in that time of year when some of the storms will likely be severe, with potential for large hail and damaging winds.  There’s also some actual winter-like weather expected in the west, as there will be a good chance of some light snow at DEN to start the week and some snow showers later in the week at RNO and SLC.  Meanwhile, there are a couple rounds of windy and cool weather for the Northeast, but no significant precipitation expected there. Here are this week’s weather highlights: Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms, with the potential for hail and damaging winds, are likely from the Plains down into Texas Monday evening into Tuesday.  This will potentially include MCI, OMA, ICT, OKC, TUL, DAL, AUS, and SAT. A much cooler to start the week in DEN, with gusty northerly winds, and some snow possible overnight Monday into Tuesday.  There could even be some light accumulation. From Monday through Wednesday in the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and parts of the Southeast, scattered showers and thunderstorms will be around at times.  For the most part, the storms in these areas are not expected to be severe.  Both MDW and ATL will likely see impacts at some point during this timeframe. Very windy on Monday and again on Wednesday across the Northeast, as a couple of cold fronts keep it cool in this region.  Northerly winds gusting well into the 30s (knots) will be likely for stations from New England down to the DC area, along with somewhat cooler high temperatures mostly in the 50s to low 60s. This information is not intended for dispatching purposes.   ... View more

It’s been an unusually warm last ten days or so across much of the country, and that trend will continue for most locations in the eastern half of the nation much of this week.  An example of this is at Chicago-Midway, where they’ve seen five straight days of 80 degrees or higher, easily a new record for them in March….and their normal high today is 49 degrees!  Since it’s rather cool-to-cold in the west, the atmosphere has a way of trying to make things equal, and that usually comes in the way of thunderstorms.  Sure enough, there will be widespread thunderstorms in the middle of the country, where the colder air meets the very warm air.  The ingredients will also be in place for severe weather and heavy rain from the Midwest down into Texas, with only very slow movement of the system towards the east through the week. Here are this week’s weather highlights: A very stormy Monday and Tuesday for the central and southern Plains, with numerous thunderstorms, and a good chance of severe weather with rather high potential for strong winds and hail, as well as heavy rain totals.  This includes Kansas City, Omaha, Des Moines, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, & Houston. The same weather system will only very slowly move east by Wednesday and Thursday, with the best chances at showers and thunderstorms, including possibly some heavy rain and strong storms, taking place across parts of the Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Midwest (New Orleans, Little Rock, Jackson, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago-Midway, Milwaukee, Des Moines, & Minneapolis-St. Paul).  The system weakens by Thursday and Friday, so that by the time it moves further east into the Southeast and Great Lakes, coverage of showers and thunderstorms is more isolated, including at Atlanta. The west will be where the cool weather will be, especially to start out the week.  Temperatures will be below normal over all of the west through about mid week, with warming the second half of the week.  There will also be some scattered rain showers around San Diego and Phoenix Monday, and possibly some snow showers at Salt Lake City Monday and Tuesday. While there may eventually be some showers make it to the Northeast by next weekend, overall it will be very mild and dry much of the week, including at Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Newark, Long Island-MacArthur, and across New England. ... View more