Storms will develop across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on Friday, as a front moves in from the Plains.
A low pressure system moving off the Northern Rockies takes a more northeastward turn, tracking into central Canada. Flow around this system will push warmer air into Manitoba and Ontario, while the back side of this system will pull cooler air into the Central US from Canada. This will create a cold front that will stretch over the Plains and reach into the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Valley by evening. Warm and moist air feeding in ahead of this system from the Gulf of Mexico will allow for storms to develop just ahead of this frontal boundary. If storms turn severe, they will most likely develop across the Upper Midwest and Northern Great Lakes. There is a slight risk of storms turning severe along the tail end of this front through the Central Plains and into the Mid-Mississippi River Valley. The northern Rockies will see a few more rain and high elevation snow showers Friday morning.
Meanwhile, a low pressure system spinning just off the West Coast moves southward and sits off the coast of northern California. This system will push ample moisture onshore, triggering rain showers over northern California in the afternoon and evening. Expect snow showers to develop across the Sierras by evening.
In the East, a ridge of high pressure building over the East Coast brings another warm, sunny, and dry day. A heat advisory has been issued through Friday evening across the Southeast as high temperatures are expected to reach into the upper 90s. Thus, The Southeast will remain under dangerous fire conditions. The Southwest will also see another active fire day, as the system moving through the Plains will create a windy and dry day.
Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a morning low of 26 degrees at Bishop, Calif., to a high of 106 degrees at Pecos, Texas.
