Overview
- High pressure keeps many areas unseasonably mild and mostly dry through Friday into Saturday, with frequent breezes and localized gusts near 25–40 mph.
- Forecast timing has shifted earlier, with showers arriving Saturday afternoon or evening in several markets and clearing early Sunday for a drier, cooler finish to the weekend.
- Precipitation type will vary by elevation and latitude, with rain for most lower elevations and a wintry mix or snow in higher terrain and northern areas including parts of New England and the Rockies.
- Southern California is expected to see the heaviest impacts, with periods of rain Friday into Saturday that could total a few inches and a sharp temperature drop of roughly 10–30 degrees.
- Southeast Texas remains hot with record-challenge highs into next week and worsening drought, while parts of the Ohio Valley could see a few stronger thunderstorms Saturday before a cooler, blustery Sunday; aurora chances have faded after earlier-week displays.