What We're Watching in the Weather in the Week Ahead

Norfolk Closes Floodgates Ahead Of Nor'easter

An active weather pattern will bring the chance for rain, thunderstorms and snow to much of the U.S. in the week ahead, along with some temperature changes.

Below we take a closer look at what we are watching in the week ahead.

Early Week System Tracks Eastward

A low pressure system will move from the Mississippi Valley into the Southeast through Monday.

Hail larger than golf balls were reported in the northern Dallas metro area Sunday evening. Localized hail was also reported as far north as southeastern Missouri.

Precipitation will reach the East Coast by Monday, with showers and thunderstorms in the South and mid-Atlantic. A few severe storms with damaging wind gusts and large hail could develop in the Southeast, particularly from central Alabama into western Georgia.

Showers may linger in parts of the Southeast into Tuesday.

This is not expected to be a strong low pressure system, but travel impacts are possible. Locally heavy rainfall is possible in heavy downpours, but most areas will see light rainfall totals.

Temperature Rollercoaster Ahead

Cooler temperatures will slide south and east behind the early week system across much of the eastern half of the U.S. Lows in the single digits and teens are possible in northern New England and parts of upstate New York early to midweek.

That changes again by midweek, when an upper-level ridge or northward bulge of the jet stream will develop over parts of the West bringing with it warmer-than-average temperatures from the Southwest to the upper Midwest Tuesday and Wednesday.

The above-average temperatures will slide eastward by late week. Highs may climb into the 60s in New York City and Boston by late week.

But you guessed it, the temperatures will change again, and by late week cooler temperatures will return to the West and spread eastward to end March and begin April.

The 6-to-10 day temperature outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center highlights the Central U.S. as having the highest chances of experiencing below-average temperatures in late March and early April.

Active Pattern Persists in the West

Several disturbances will bring rain and higher elevation snow to parts of the West in the week ahead.

Another round of rain and snow will arrive on the West Coast on Monday, mainly in northern California, western Oregon and western Washington.

The rain and snow will continue adding up through late week, with the heaviest precipitation expected midweek. The highest rainfall totals are expected in Central and Northern California, especially in the foothills of the Sierra. Feet of snow are anticipated in the Sierra Nevada, mainly at elevations above 5,000 feet.

Late-Week System May Develop in the Central U.S.

That same midweek West system will emerge in the Plains late week as a cold front slides southward from Canada. Precipitation may be enhanced as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico flows northward.

Showers and thunderstorms may develop from the southern Plains into the Midwest and Great Lakes with snow or a mix of rain and snow from the northern Rockies and northern Plains into the upper Mississippi valley.

It is too early for details on this system so be sure to check back to weather.com for updates in the days ahead.