Active Central Plains: rain snow, winds

On Wednesday, a storm system exits the Rockies, bringing strong winds over the Central Plains. In the evening, heavy rain and snow will reach the Great Lakes. The Breakfast Brief is published daily, Monday through Friday, at 5:00 a.m. Eastern time.

The same system that impacted the Rockies on Tuesday will affect the central Plains on Wednesday morning and move over the southern portion of the Great Lakes by the evening. Chicago through western Indiana has a chance for isolated severe storms that could produce damaging wind gusts and hail, mainly between the late afternoon and evening. Tornadoes are also possible in this area in the same time frame.

A cold front will sweep through the South from the center of this low-pressure system. Houston could experience a few scattered showers on Wednesday morning as the front pushes through, and the line could become better defined as it moves east. By the afternoon, it will be pushing, from west to east, through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. There is a chance for some isolated storms in the afternoon.

As seen in our WindRadar, the winds will be extremely strong across the Ozarks after the cold front passes through and around the southern and western periphery of the low-pressure system. Gusts from Oklahoma through St. Louis and Des Moines could reach at least 50 mph. These winds can carry dust, which can obstruct visibility for some. With very dry air and strong gusts, there will be elevated fire risk across much of Texas and critically high conditions from the Mexican border to Midland.

Clouds will build during the day from west to east especially along the northern half the West Coast. The heaviest rain will move in during the late afternoon and continue to move inland, but still affect the coast through the evening. Heavy snow will arrive to the interior mountains where the Northern Sierra can expect 6 to 8 inches of snow, which can produce travel delays and slick roads.

This system will be moving rapidly west and another system will impact the Pacific Northwest, from Oregon through Washington on Thursday, where torrential rains will fall and there is a growing chance for flash floods to end the week.

Series of systems to impact the West Coast to end the workweek.

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