Weather Saturday May 4 2024 Ion Weather showers northeast, dry in Cally rain Pac NW

Heavy rain, significant flooding, and severe weather concerns remain
across parts of eastern Texas and the southern Plains through the
weekend...

Heavy mountain snow and gusty winds to enter much of the West, Great
Basin, and Rockies over the next few days...

Below average temperatures and showers impact the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast into the end of the weekend...

Slow-moving thunderstorms containing intense rainfall rates are ongoing
this afternoon throughout parts of southeastern Texas just north of the
Houston metro area, which are leading to a continuing threat of flash
flooding. Ongoing significant to catastrophic flooding throughout parts of
eastern Texas from prior heavy rain will only exacerbate the flash, urban,
and river flooding threat from additional rainfall into this evening.
Newly formed thunderstorms developing off a southern High Plains dryline
could lead to isolated to scattered flash flooding across central Texas as
well tonight, but the main hazard associated with these storms are
forecast to be associated with giant hail, damaging wind gusts, and a few
tornadoes. Farther north, a potent cold front exiting the central High
Plains and progressing into the mid-Mississippi Valley by Saturday is also
expected to spark a line of showers and thunderstorms capable of producing
heavy rain and severe thunderstorms, mainly throughout parts of Kansas and
Nebraska.

By this weekend, the aforementioned cold front is expected to continue
progressing eastward through the Midwest and Ohio Valley. The tail end of
of this frontal boundary reaching westward to the southern Plains will be
the focus for additional thunderstorm activity and the potential for flash
flooding. A Slight Risk (level 2/4) of Excessive Rainfall has been issued
for central and north-central Texas on Saturday, with the threat area
shifting east on Sunday, extending from eastern Texas to southwest
Missouri and far southeast Kansas. Additionally, severe thunderstorms are
possible, with the greatest risk anticipated on Saturday in the Permian
Basin of West Texas. Several storms may produce large to giant hail and a
couple strong tornadoes.

An anomalously strong upper-level low entering northern California on
Saturday night is forecast to spread moderate to heavy precipitation and
gusty winds into the western U.S. and Great Basin this weekend. Heavy
mountain snow in the Sierra Nevada and Oregon Cascades is likely to add up
to over a foot (mainly above 6000 feet) on Saturday. As the system
continues to swing eastward, gusty southerly winds up to 60 to 80s mph are
possible in the central Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada, where High Wind
Warnings have been issued. The associated precipiation and gusty winds
will shift eastward as the upper-level low crosses the Intermountain West
on Sunday. Residents and visitors through are advised to check local
conditions before traveling, especially throughout exposed elevated
roadways.

Showers are also expected to dampen the first weekend in May throughout
much of the Great Lakes and eastern United States. Most precipitation
should remain scattered, with thunderstorm chances in the Southeast, Ohio
and Tennessee valleys. A backdoor cold front sinking through the
Mid-Atlantic today will allow for additional shower activity and below
average temperatures this weekend. Highs are only expected to reach the
50s and 60s as cloud cover and cool air streaming off the Atlantic keep
temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average between the Mid-Atlantic and
New England when compared to climatology for the dates.