Breakfast brief: Quiet Thursday

The quiet but cold work week continues, with one clipper moving across the East. Looking ahead, a major arctic outbreak is possible this weekend. The Breakfast Brief is published daily, Monday through Friday, at 5:00 a.m. Eastern time.

A clipper system moving out of the Great Lakes will streak across the Northeast today. This will produce a burst of snow, with only an inch or two possible. The central Appalachians could see more snow, with more than 6 inches possible. The cold arctic air already in place will make the snow stick, causing a few slick roads.

The end of a front across northern Florida will produce some showers and clouds. The WeatherRadar shows a weak system moving into the Northwest, triggering a fresh batch of showers there, especially later in the day.

Another cold day is in store across the Great Lakes and the Northeast. The TemperatureRadar shows highs in the 20s and 30s. It is a different story across the Plains and South. A bit of thaw will occur this afternoon as highs jump into the 50s, with southern Texas and Gulf Coast hitting the 60s. Florida will be in the 70s. This will be different story by Sunday, when a deep freeze reaches Texas and much of the South.

The West, outside of the already mentions showers moving into the Northwest, will remain quiet too. Highs will be 30s an 40s in the Mountain West while 50s and 60s warm California. The Southwest will be in the low 70s.