US Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
343 PM EDT Mon Mar 25 2019
 
Valid Thursday March 28 2019 - Monday April 01 2019
 
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of the Central Plains, the Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Ohio 
Valley, Thu-Sat, Mar 28-Mar 30.
- Heavy snow across portions of the Northern and Central Rockies, and the Central Plains, Thu-Fri, 
Mar 28-Mar 29.
- Flooding possible across portions of the Northern Plains.
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Mississippi and Missouri River Basins.
- Flooding likely across portions of the Mississippi and Missouri River Basins.
 
Detailed Summary:

An upper level Pacific trough shifts into the Western U.S. at the beginning of the medium range 
(Thursday). This is likely to result in areas of heavy mountain snows for portions of the Northern 
and Central Rockies, eastward into portions of the Central High Plains as well Thursday into Friday 
(March 28-29). As the trough progresses through the West, expect the development of a cyclone at 
the surface which shifts from the Central Plains on Thursday to the Ohio Valley/Northeast this 
coming weekend. Deepening flow of Gulf of Mexico moisture ahead of this system will allow for an 
axis of heavy rainfall to shift from the Central Plains to the Middle Mississippi Valley and 
Midwest at the end of this week and into the beginning of the weekend. Enough cold air on the 
northern edge of the precipitation shield may allow for some late season snowfall across parts of 
the Great Lakes, but at this point was not enough for an area on the hazards chart. Widespread 
light to moderate (below hazard chart criteria) rains shift into the East by the weekend, with some 
light accumulating snowfall possible across portions of interior New England as well.

Ongoing moderate to major flooding across the Mississippi and Missouri River Basins is expected to 
continue through the medium range period. Heavy rainfall from the Central Plains to the Midwest is 
likely to exacerbate flooding across this area. Snowfall across parts of the Northern Rockies early 
in the period, followed by a warming trend in the temperatures may result in snow-melt and flooding 
concerns across this region as well towards the end of the period.

Alaska looks to be fairly quiet during the medium range period as surface high pressure gets 
anchored over the mainland. A deep cyclone crossing the western Aleutians may induce a period of 
high winds, but given the high criteria (greater than 50 knots) over that portion of the state, 
opted to not include a high wind hazard on the graphic at this time.

Santorelli