Good Tuesday bloggers,
We are still tracking three storm systems for this Thanksgiving holiday week. Here in our region we will be experiencing all kinds of weather as these three systems impact travel across the USA. Here is the day by day update.
TODAY-TONIGHT: This is a strong storm that will bring our area mostly strong winds tonight with west to northwest gusts at 45-50 mph. A few brief thunderstorms may occur this evening before they grow and move east. There is a severe threat over most of Missouri south to Arkansas and east to western sections of Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. The thunderstorms may produce brief strong winds and hail, mostly east of KC.
The other issue today is the forecast high. Look at the 3 PM forecast temperatures. They range from 39° at Hiawatha, KS to 66° at Clinton, MO. A warm front will be bisecting the area and there will be a few showers north of the front.
If we see any thunderstorms they will occur for a short time between 5 and 9 PM before racing east. The 45-50 mph wind gusts will arrive after 10 PM
WEDNESDAY: The 45-50 mph wind gusts will end Wednesday morning as the storm races to the Great Lakes. Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, NYC, Boston and Newark will be impacted during the day Wednesday.
Wednesday afternoon you can see all three storm systems. The one from today is moving in to New England. The second storm is racing northeast from Baja, CA and the third storm is becoming rather large on the west coast.
THANKSGIVING DAY: The second storm will be racing north producing a large area of rain with a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain on its north edge. So, if you have to travel on Thanksgiving day keep this in mind as the mix will affect most locations before it changes to rain. We may see a brief period of mix Thursday morning before it changes to rain and drizzle. The earlier the precipitation moves in the better chance that roads will be slick due to colder air and surface temperatures.
The storm is weakening, so by Thursday evening there will be lingering light rain and drizzle. If the roads get slick during the morning, they will improve during the afternoon. Temperatures will slowly rise Thursday night, so we will not have any icy roads at that time. So, the forecast for the Plaza Lighting remains the same. There is a chance for drizzle with temperatures in the mid 30s. There will be an east-southeast wind at 10-15 mph. The western 1/2 of the USA will be seeing major impacts from the third storm.
FRIDAY: The third storm will be taking over the USA. It will be affecting just about the whole country except the eastern 1/4 of the USA. This is going to be impacting numerous airports. At least the precipitation is mostly rain in the middle of the USA. We will have a windy and wet "Black Friday", but warmer air will be trying to move in. We will be in the 50s by evening.
SATURDAY: The large storm will be centered in the northern Plains where a blizzard is possible. The rain will be shifting to east of the Mississippi river. We will see some sun with highs in the 50s, but there will be 30-40 mph wind gusts. A fourth storm is affecting the west coast, but it will stay out there for a few days. It will have travel impacts on the west coast for sure.
SUNDAY: The third storm will be shifting east, impacting locations from around Chicago to New England. The fourth storm is still having impacts on the west coast. We will be mostly cloudy, windy and cold with flurries possible. It is going to be cold for the Raiders vs. Chiefs game.
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving and be weather aware.
