Weather across America

(NATIONAL) Much below average temperatures expected from the Great Lakes into the Northeast with records possible, lake effect snows to remain active off the eastern Lakes, Elevated to Critical Fire Weather Threat for the South and Southeast, and much needed precipitation moving in. 

Broad cyclonic flow across southeast Canada into the northeastern U.S. will keep temperatures well below average over the next two days from the Great Lakes into the Northeast. Many locations will see both morning low and afternoon high temperatures 15 to 25 degrees colder than average. 

There is the potential for record low maximum temperatures on Monday across the Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast, including the major metropolitan regions from DC to Boston. Temperatures should begin to moderate across these areas by mid-week, with a return to much above average temperatures Thursday and Friday.

The much below average temperatures across the northeastern quarter of the nation have been supporting active early spring lake effect snows downwind of all of the Great Lakes. Heavy snows have been observed over the past 24 hours, especially to the east and southeast of Lake Erie. Snow totals of 6-12" have been reported over portions of western New York State, southwest Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and central West Virginia, with 4 to 6" reported over northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. The active lake effect snows will continue Sunday night but begin to diminish during the day on Monday.

Dry weather is expected over the next two days across large portions of the central and eastern U.S. These dry conditions, combined with low relative humidities and windy conditions will increase the threat of fire weather conditions across the Southern Plains, the Southeast and portions of Florida. 

The recent dry weather across much of California will be coming to at least a temporary end Sunday night as an approaching storm system pushes rain inland. Heavy precipitation likely Sunday night into Monday across large sections of California, with heavy snows in the 12–24-inch range possible through the Sierra. California remains in severe to extreme drought with the precipitation over the next 24 hours likely followed by dry conditions for the remainder of the week. 

The storm system affecting California over the next 24 hours will push inland into the Southwest, Great Basin, and Rockies on Tuesday, supporting widespread moderate precipitation amounts across these regions. Similar to California, much of this region is also in severe to extreme drought conditions.