Weather

Intense weekend storm; unseasonably cold air builds southward

Another impressive storm will cross the Southwest Friday, reaching the central Plains on Saturday, and intensify across the upper Great Lakes region by Sunday. Significant snow will fall in several areas, including the Southwest, the central Plains, and the upper Midwest, while blowing and drifting snow could result in livestock stress and travel disruptions.

Farther east, storm-total rainfall of 2 to 5 inches across the interior Southeast could result in widespread flooding. During the weekend, a Pacific storm will arrive in the Northwest, delivering a new round of rain and snow.

Meanwhile, cold air will remain entrenched across the West during the next several days, while another Arctic blast will reach the northern Plains on Saturday and expand to cover the upper Midwest early next week.

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or below-normal temperatures nationwide, except for warmer-than-normal weather across the lower Southeast.

Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation across most of the U.S. should contrast with drier-than-normal conditions from southern California to the southern Plains and parts of the mid-South.