Blog Article
US Weather Pattern Flip: March Heatwave, Blizzards & Severe Storms
March weather is bringing extremes across the US. Track today's severe storms in the East, a historic 100-degree heatwave in the Southwest, and Cascade blizzards.
From Midwest Tornadoes to a Historic March Heatwave: The Pattern Flip is Here
Alright folks, let's talk about this weather. As we talked about yesterday, that polar vortex split has been sending our atmosphere into absolute overdrive. Y'all saw the viral videos of the baseball-sized hail in Chicago and those heartbreaking tornadoes in Michigan.
Well, that same storm system is still on the move today. But behind it, we are tracking a massive coast-to-coast pattern flip that is going to bring weather whiplash to a whole lot of you.
Here is the thing. We are about to see everything from historic desert heat to mountain blizzards, all at the exact same time.
Today's Threat: Storms and Heavy Rain
Before we get to the big pattern change, we have to get through today. That cold front that caused so much trouble yesterday is currently draped from the Ohio Valley all the way down to the Gulf Coast.
The Storm Prediction Center has a Slight Risk for severe storms covering a huge chunk of real estate today. If you live in Houston, Memphis, Indianapolis, Columbus, or Philadelphia, you need to be paying attention.
Get this, we are also watching a serious flood threat down south. The Weather Prediction Center is warning that thunderstorms are going to train, which means they line up and move over the exact same areas like train cars on a track. This is going to happen from East Texas right into the Lower Mississippi Valley. If you are heading out to the Houston Crawfish Day Fest later this week, the grounds might be pretty soggy, so pack the right boots.
The Great Divide: Heat vs. Snow
Once this front clears out, the West Coast is going to become the main character of our weather story.
Down in Southern California and the Desert Southwest, a massive ridge of high pressure is building in. We are talking about a historic March heatwave. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is forecasting temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above normal. We could see isolated 100-degree readings in the valleys. If you are heading to the Tasty Nights Street Food Festival in Mesa, Arizona this weekend, keep that AC running in the car and drink plenty of water. It is going to feel like the middle of July.
But if you look just up the coast to the Pacific Northwest, it is a completely different universe.
A potent atmospheric river is slamming into Washington and Oregon. The Cascades and the Olympic Mountains are under Blizzard Warnings. We are talking about snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour and wind gusts up to 70 mph. If you have to travel through the mountain passes, you might want to rethink those plans.
Fire and Ice in the Middle
Right in the middle of the country, the atmosphere is caught in a tug-of-war.
Tomorrow, we have a Critical Fire Weather risk for the Texas Panhandle, eastern New Mexico, and western Oklahoma. When you combine 35 mph wind gusts with humidity dropping down to 15 percent, any spark can turn into a raging wildfire in a heartbeat. Please be careful with anything that can cause a spark outside.
Meanwhile, up in the Great Lakes, winter is making a loud comeback. After dealing with severe weather yesterday, folks in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are getting 6 to 9 inches of snow today. A fast-moving clipper system is going to sweep across the Northern Plains toward the Great Lakes later this week, bringing another swath of heavy snow and 45 to 55 mph winds. Talk about swinging from AC to hoodies and snow boots in the span of 48 hours.
Bottom Line
- East Coast and South: Have a way to get weather alerts today. Strong storms and heavy rain are moving through before things cool down.
- Southwest: Treat this heatwave seriously. It is way too early in the year for 100-degree heat, and your body is not used to it yet.
- Pacific Northwest: Avoid mountain travel if you can. The blizzard conditions in the Cascades are no joke.
- Southern Plains: No outdoor burning. The fire risk is extremely high tomorrow.
Stay safe out there, y'all. I will keep watching the data and let you know what changes.