Sunny and calm locally; first winter storm of the season in north-central U.S.
Clear skies and abundant sunshine will bring moderate temperatures and calm winds to the region through this weekend. High temperatures will remain slightly above normal in the upper 50s in advance of an incoming low pressure system from the west. That system will be this year’s first significant winter storm in the continental United States and is poised to bring heavy snowfall and possible blizzard conditions to much of the High Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley. In conjunction, a cold front will sweep across the central and eastern United States, bringing a chance of showers followed by much cooler weather to most locations.
Unfortunately, the system is not expected to bring significant rainfall to the southeastern United States where wildfires continue to burn as an extreme drought intensifies its grip on the region. In the tropics, a weak disturbance is expected to possibly develop into a possible depression over the next few days as it meanders in the western Caribbean Sea, but it is not expected to become a significant threat to land prior to dissipating.