NOAA/NWS: Significant Event Outlook – A Powerful Cold Front to Sweep Through the Eastern Half of U.S.

A Powerful Cold Front to Sweep Through the Eastern Half of U.S.
A wide-range of hazards are likely on Friday and Saturday

Key Points

• A late-winter-season arctic cold front is plunging through the Plains and Western U.S. today and this powerful cold front will become a major storm system with a wide-range of hazards, as it sweeps through the Eastern half of the U.S. on Friday and Saturday.

Winter Weather

• A swath of light snow is expected on Friday from the southern Plains to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys but accumulations are expected to minimal.
• More significant accumulations of 4 inches or greater are likely Saturday from the eastern Ohio Valley and central Appalachians to northern New England with a foot or more in Upstate New York and northern New England.

Severe Thunderstorms

• Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, isolated hail and a few tornadoes are expected on Friday and Saturday from the Florida Panhandle and the north-central Florida Peninsula to the eastern Carolinas.
  • This includes the Southeast metro areas of: Charleston (SC), Columbia (SC), Jacksonville, Orlando, Raleigh, Savannah, Tallahassee and Tampa.

Heavy Rain and Flooding

• Heavy rain and flash flooding are possible on Friday from the Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia with a slight risk of excessive rainfall.
• However, significant hydrologic impacts are not expected due to the progressive nature of the system. Some rises to action stage along rivers in the Northeast will be possible this weekend, but river flooding is currently not expected.

Temperatures

• Behind the storm system and cold front, a cold blast of arctic air will progress across the Eastern half of the U.S. but overall be short-lived.
• Widespread record low temperatures are likely across the Southeast quadrant of the U.S. Sunday morning.
• Links

• National Weather Service - Hazards
• NWS River Forecasts Near or Above Flood Stage
• NWS Ocean Prediction Center
• NWS Weather Prediction Center
• NWS Storm Prediction Center
• NWS Aviation Weather Center
• National Radar

Robert Nadeau
Director of External Affairs
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
(D) 202-482-4456
(C) 202-281-7791
(Cell phone is best phone number to reach me. Thank you.)
robert.nadeau@noaa.gov

 

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