Weekend Rain Event...

Hard to believe I'm talking about a rain event when it's so pretty outside.  Satellite pics show a thin band of clouds (cold front) has pushed into the Gulf with no return flow behind it.  Wednesday will be near perfect with a warm up beginning on Thursday ahead of our next system that appears to have the potential to produce heavy rainfall over a large area of the Mississippi River Valley.

 The good news is there is little snow cover until you get far north in Nebraska.  All of the white over Iowa, Illinois, Missouri & Indiana are cloud cover.   The 7 day rainfall map has widespread amounts of 3-5" with possible 7-8"+.   RIGHT NOW, (without this new rainfall) the crest on the Mississippi River at the Carrollton gage is projected to top 12 feet next week.  That is likely to be revised higher IF this heavy rain event happens as forecasted.  The other big story is the lack of cold air over the lower 48.

Only along the Canadian border do we see single digit chill.  But fear not you cold weather geeks!  The super cold (40-50below zero) air lurks over northern Canada and Alaska.

Longer range computer models are hinting some of that chill will rumble into the U.S. for late next week.  We could see a brush of that chill, but I just don't see a deep East Coast trough (Polar Vortex) developing that will bring us a severe freeze threat.   As usual, the mild air is here now and, as often happens, When Mardi Gras comes, we'll turn much colder.   Enjoy the next 2 -3 days as late Friday night into Saturday could get really stormy for us.   Stay tuned!