5 Things To Know About This Week's Weather

Linda Lam
Published: January 9,2017
Another active week of weather is ahead, featuring a January thaw, more heavy rain and snow in California, a winter storm across the northern tier, and needed rain in parts of the South and Northeast. Late in the week and next weekend, a wintry mess of precipitation is possible in parts of the Midwest and Plains.
Let's take a closer look at what we're watching this week.

1) More Rain and Feet of Snow in California

Very heavy rain triggered flooding, mudslides and rockslides in California on Sunday. More rain is expected through Thursday as a few more weather systems impact the state, however rainfall totals will be less with those systems compared to what we've already seen.
(MORE: More Rain and Snow For California)
Given the saturated ground, some additional flooding is possible. In addition, gusty winds could down some trees.

Snowfall Forecast

Since snow levels will be lower, this will lessen the risk of snowmelt contributing to runoff on rivers and streams. Parts of the Sierra Nevada will pick up anywhere from 5 to 7 feet of snow this week along the crest. Major passes will also be impacted by the snowfall and high winds.

2) Winter Storm Iras

Iras will continue its cross-country trek early this week, bringing wintry precipitation to portions of the northern tier.

Tuesday's Forecast

This system will bring heavy snow to the Rockies into Monday.
Snow will also develop by Monday in parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with moderate snow possible Monday night from the Dakotas into the Great Lakes region. Some sleet and freezing rain is also likely on the southern edge of the precipitation in the Midwest.
(MORE: Winter Storm Iras)
On Tuesday, the chance of snow, sleet and freezing rain will stretch from the Upper Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes and interior Northeast. While precipitation should change to rain in much of the Northeast by Tuesday night, some stubborn valley locations in the interior Northeast may hang onto freezing rain a bit longer.

3) January Thaw Ahead

January began with temperatures much colder than average across the U.S., but a pattern change will allow milder temperatures to return this week.
By Tuesday, above-average temperatures will spread from the southern Plains to much of the Midwest and East.

Wednesday's Forecast Highs Compared to Average

Temperatures on Wednesday will be warmer than average from the Four Corners region to the East Coast.
High temperatures will reach the 40s and 50s from the central Plains into the Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Temperatures will also climb into the 60s and 70s across the South mid-to-late week.
Temperatures will also not drop below the freezing mark, 32 degrees, from southern New England through the Ohio Valley southward by late week.
(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)
Not everyone will experience the above-average conditions. The exception to the milder temperatures will be from the northern Rockies into the northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley. Eventually, some of that colder air will plunge southward through the Plains later in the week.

4) Wet South, Northeast

Two low pressure systems will bring the chance of showers and rain to the South and East this week.
The first system will bring rain from the Ohio Valley into the Mississippi Valley Tuesday, zipping to the Northeast coast by Wednesday.
A few t-storms are possible along the southern end of this system in the Tennessee Valley Tuesday, but widespread severe thunderstorms are currently not anticipated.
Another disturbance will bring the chance for rain mid-late week from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, then trailing southwestward along a cold front into the parts of the South. A few thunderstorms are also possible with this late week system.

Wednesday's Forecast

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
Some rainfall totals over 1 inch are likely in the Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley where any areas of rain and t-storms may stall out, temporarily.
Portions of the Northeast and South remain in drought conditions so any rainfall will be welcomed, although many areas of the South that need the rain will receive little if any rainfall from these systems.

5) Weekend Mess?

If that all wasn't enough, we're looking at a wintry mess heading into next weekend.
Fresh cold air diving southward through the Plains and Midwest late next week will be in place ahead of an upper-level storm system pivoting out of the Southwest into the Plains states.
This sets the stage for a potential widespread mess of snow, sleet, and freezing rain beginning Friday from parts of Texas into the Midwest as soon as Friday, with this broad mess spreading into at least parts of the Northeast next weekend.

Saturday's Outlook

If you have travel plans Friday-Sunday in the Plains, Midwest and Northeast, you should definitely keep an eye on this forecast through the week.
(MAPS: 7-Day U.S. Rain/Snow/Ice Forecast)
Thunderstorms, some of which may be severe, are also likely on the southern end of this storm system into next weekend from parts of Texas to the Lower Mississippi Valley.

MORE: Winter Storm Helena (PHOTOS)