West to East changes

The quiet week of weather east of the Rockies will end heading into the weekend, with big severe storms and even some blizzard conditions possible.

A late-season Pacific storm rolling across the West Coast is bringing downpours and mountain snow from northern California to the Northwest. The WeatherRadar shows it moving into southern California, the Southwest and Rockies later tonight and Thursday. This will bring much-needed rain and mountain snow.

On Friday, the energy from this system jumps into the western Plains and a new low-pressure system will develop.

A textbook spring severe storm set-up will develop. Warm and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico streaming northward will feed this developing system and severe storms will develop Friday afternoon and evening throughout the Mississippi and Ohio valleys into the Midwest.

Tornadoes and damaging winds will be possible, with some of the most dangerous storms occurring after sunset. Residents within this danger zone should have multiple ways of getting alerted.

Across the Upper Midwest into the Dakotas, the northwest flank will be just cold enough for heavy snow to fall. Add in northerly wind gusts in excess of 35 mph, and blizzard conditions are possible.

On Saturday later into early Sunday, a second wave of severe storms will develop across the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic. Not only will these storms bring another batch of dangerous winds and tornadoes, but a deluge of rain could produce flash flooding throughout the Southeast.

Weather & Radar meteorologists will be working all weekend to provide up-to-the-minute updates on this possible spring storm.