An active, moisture-laden pattern for the Heartland

Weather

An active, moisture-laden pattern for the Heartland

For the remainder of Tuesday, snow will blanket portions of the Plains and much of the upper Midwest. Meanwhile, rain will develop from the southern Plains into the mid-South.

By December 30-31, heavy rain from eastern Texas into the lower Ohio Valley could total 2 to 5 inches or more, possibly resulting in flooding. Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms may occur across the Deep South, especially in the western and central Gulf Coast States.

On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, a second round of snow will develop, starting in west-central Texas and spreading across the east-central Plains and upper Midwest.

Elsewhere, dry weather will prevail during the next 5 days in southern California and the Southwest, but a series of Pacific storms will maintain unsettled, showery weather in the Northwest. Precipitation will occasionally spread as far south as northern California.

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for near- or above-normal temperatures nationwide, except for cooler-than-normal conditions in southern California.

Meanwhile, near- or above-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with drier-than-normal weather in the Atlantic Coast States. Of note, the outlook favors drought relief in much of the West.