New Orleans; Jackson, Mississippi? Birmingham, Alabama; and Atlanta will all have a lot of rain this weekend. On Saturday, strong to strong thunderstorms will extend from Dallas to Wilmington, North Carolina. The main threats include isolated tornadoes, catastrophic winds, hail and frequent lightning strikes. Heavy thunderstorms are also possible Sunday from Louisiana’s Shreveport to Florida’s Tallahassee. While most of the rain and thunderstorms are expected to bring less than 2 inches of rain in total, some stronger thunderstorms could cause heavy rainfall, with a drop of 3 to 5 inches. It’s all thanks to a front that virtually stops over many southern states, bringing prolonged rainy seasons. Although this weekend will not be rinsing for everyone, there is a chance of rain all the way from Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas to Carolina. For some cities – including Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina – rain is expected mainly on Saturdays, allowing drier conditions on Sundays and the opportunity to indulge in some outdoor activities without getting wet.
Sun and rain for the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast
As in Carolina, many areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will have to face the rain for half the weekend. New York, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are forecasting rain for Saturday, with a drier second half of the weekend. However, after the completion of the system, the temperature will drop slightly on Sunday. Boston, for example, will go from a forecast high on Saturday in the mid-1960s to a high Sunday in the 1950s. Similarly, Philadelphia goes from a predicted 70-degree high Saturday to mid-1950s Sunday.
Winter returns to the Midwest
Across the Midwest, snowfall over the weekend and temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees below normal will make people wonder if it is really spring. Minneapolis normally sees a high temperature of around 57 degrees, but this weekend it will be around 40 degrees, making it look more like the beginning of March. North Dakota Bismarck, which normally sees highs in the mid-1950s at this point in April, expects a high Saturday of 26 degrees – the normal high temperature for mid-February. Both cities could also snow on Sunday, so Easter egg hunting can be a bit more difficult this year. Snowfalls will be highest in Dakota, where they could fall more than 6 inches in two days. Elsewhere in the Midwest, 1 to 3 inches of fresh snow is expected this weekend.
New system arrives for the West Coast
Portland, Oregon had measurable rain or snow every day of the week and could take a break. But it will have to wait until Sunday for a day without rain as forecast. A new system that pushes the West Coast will bring extra rain – and snow at higher altitudes – from Seattle to San Francisco. The system starts in Northern California before moving north and east over the weekend. The heaviest rainfall will be in Northern California, where 1 to 3 inches are expected. For higher altitudes in the Cascades, Sierra and Olympic Mountains, snow is also forecast from early Saturday morning. Until Saturday night, this humidity pushes into the Intermountain West and brings some light snow to the Rocky Mountains.
