Storms Batter Both Coasts As March Begins Roaring...

For most of the country (except West) March came in like a lamb.  As we near the halfway point, that has changed.  A Nor'Easter is dumping on New England and its circulation is driving cold air all the way into Florida.  As that system exits into Canada, another strong disturbance has plowed into California and will bring us our next front on Friday.  Let's begin with the East Coast first.

The cool surface high has most of Florida in the 60s & 70s after they were near 90 last week.  The light rain across OK/TX is the result of a fast moving weak upper low that might give us a few sprinkles later tonight.

A much larger upper disturbance is bringing yet another atmospheric river to California.  That energy will bring us a possible severe threat with a cold front on Friday.

The bottom SPC graphic is valid for Thursday.  It likely will slide over us for Friday.

As the surface high drifts farther to the east, our low level flow will return off the Gulf bringing back warmer air & the muggies.  South Texas already has 50+ dew points. 

The computer model upper air forecast shows how progressive (fast moving) the dips are traveling across the country.  The top graphic is from this morning with the East coast stom.  The middle view is valid for Thursday as an upper ridge builds over us and the California system crosses the Rockies.  The bottom graphic is valid for next Saturday showing a deeper East coast trough.  We need to pay attention to that trough as some very cold air remains over eastern Canada.

We still can get light freezes here into late March, so if you have planted some tender plants, you may have to protect them next week.

It could get real ugly & cold here next week.  Finally, I grabbed these photos of the snow cover out west.

The way you know it's snow cover is the white doesn't move while clouds do.  In addition, clouds cast shadows (yellow arrows) while snow cover doesn't.  Just some useless facts for you weather geeks. Stay tuned!