Fast Moving Friday Front Leaves Drier, Cooler Weekend

As mentioned yesterday, the cold front bringing us some showers & a little thunder is quickly moving to the east and all the rain will be gone by 7-8 PM.  The main upper energy has lifted well to our north with the warm air & heaviest storms remaining off the Louisiana coast.   Radar is indicating that is where the lightning is located.

Once this system passes, our weekend should be dry & comfy cool.  It's the Monday system that should warrant more concern.  here's why.  Look at the difference in where the upper energy goes. The top graphic is now with the upper low in Kansas.

The second graphic is valid for Monday morning with the next upper low again in New Mexico.  But, instead of lifting into Kansas & into Wisconsin, this low races across Oklahoma into Arkansas before lifting over Kentucky & Pennsylvania.  With that energy coming closer to us, we're likely to see greater weather impacts on Monday vs today.  Zack Fradella timed it out this morning.

Since the surface low is deeper & going to our NW, we get into the warm air sector which will likely increase our severe weather risk.  It will be another fast moving system so I think the rainfall might be greater than today (< 1"), but amounts should not exceed 1-3".  The heaviest is forecasted to go to our east over Florida. with possible 4-6" there.

Something to watch will be how far south the snow line reaches.  Since the upper trough lifts out rather quickly, the core of the cold air will stay north & east.  However, remember that "Polar Vortex"?

The top upper air graphic is valid for Jan. 17th showing the vortex sliding south of Hudson Bay.  Note the 30-40+ below zero temps in northern Canada.  The question I have is...will that vortex deepen down towards the Gulf coast?  If so, widespread freezes are likely here for many days. But we have time to watch it.  It appears the heaviest rains have passed through with skies already clearing at Houston.

Our weekend looks terrific until that Monday system arrives.

There is some snow falling over the central plains, but the air across the nation is not super cold just yet.  

Not sure why the FOX 8 extended has clouds for Saturday & Sunday as satellite views don't show them.  Perhaps it's because models say so?  Enjoy your weekend with a sweater, a jacket or your favorite beverage sitting next to the fireplace.  Stay tuned!