Daily briefing: Busy Friday ahead

It's a busy Friday. We're watching a severe weather system in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and Deep South, as well as wet weather in the Pacific Northwest and an autumn storm coming together for the northern tier. This, along with our tropical update, is available at 5 a.m. ET in our daily briefing.

Severe storms are in the forecast as a cold front swings through the Ohio Valley through the Deep South today. This is the same cold front that brought heavy, gusty showers to Chicago early this morning and is sweeping eastward. Rain and snow are possible on the northern flank across the Upper Great Lakes.

The strongest severe storms are forecast for Bowling Green, Kent., and into Nashville and Franklin, Tenn. Tornadoes, large hail and damaging gusts are all possible. Keep your eyes on the WeatherRadar.

As the front moves east, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will get afternoon and evening rain, with storms impacting the Southeast late tonight.

The storm that brought heavy rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest and California on Thursday is slowly dissipating today. Heavy rain and mountain snow continue early this morning, but quieter weather moves in as the storm shifts eastward into the northern tier.

As the storm shifts into the northern tier, specifically in the northern and high Plains, the next large autumn storm will begin coming together. Rain and snow are in the forecast late tonight, but we'll see the storm expand through the weekend as the first big cold blast of the season gives it wintry fuel. Widespread snow showers are possible as far south as the southern Appalachians. Check the WeatherRadar for a preview.

The northern tier from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast will have highs in the 40s and 50s today, with a few pockets of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest in the upper 30s. Warmer 60s and low 70s will be found from San Francisco to Kansas City and Chicago to Washington D.C., and down to Atlanta. The southern tier will have warm highs in the upper 70s to the upper 80s from Los Angeles through Houston and down to Miami. See the TemperatureRadar for the closer details.

Tropical activity is not expected over the next several days. We continue to monitor the tropics as the Atlantic Hurricane Season lasts until November 30.

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