Today's weather was comfortable for late December with highs in the lower 50s. After falling to the mid 30s tonight, we'll start another multi-day temperature climb as the mercury heads towards a peak on Christmas Day that will go into the record books as one of the warmest Christmases on record. Before then, we will get the first of what will be probably three distinct rounds of precipitation over the coming week. This first one could produce the highest totals of the three.
Southerly flow gets re-established tomorrow, pushing temperatures well into the 50s and setting the stage for a cool front of Pacific origin (as opposed to the Arctic fronts of late) to move into the Mid-South. It will be accompanied by upper-level energy that will enhance precipitation along the front, particularly Friday night into Saturday morning. While Friday will be mainly dry, by the evening rush hour, light rain will likely be falling and then increase in intensity overnight before tapering off Saturday mid-day.
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| The national surface map valid Saturday morning at 6am. A cold front will stall out over the Mid-South with rain continuing during the early morning hours. Meanwhile, a large system takes shape in the western U.S. that will move into the Plains for Christmas Day. (NOAA) |
Rainfall totals through this period could be around 2" with most falling between midnight and noon Saturday. After reaching the mid to upper 50s Friday afternoon, temperatures won't fall overnight, remaining in the upper half of the 50s, then climbing Saturday afternoon once rain tapers off into the mid 60s. Friday evening could also be breezy as the front approaches and south wind increases ahead of it.
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| Rainfall totals for Friday night and Saturday show a swath of heavy precipitation roughly along the I-40 corridor. (WxBell/data from NWS) |
On Saturday night, the front that stalls just to our south returns north as a warm front, bringing an additional chance of a few showers. If you're planning to attend Christmas Eve services Saturday night, there could be a few showers around but it will be mild with temperatures remaining above 60 degrees. By Christmas morning, the rain should be mostly to the north closer to the retreating warm front and it will be very mild. Temperatures remain in the in the upper 50s to lower 60s all night Saturday night - no sleigh for Santa in this part of the country!
Christmas Day will see a large-scale developing storm system in the middle of the country. The Mid-South will be positioned in the warm sector of the storm with southerly flow and likely very low rain chances. With a few breaks in the clouds, temperatures should reach 70 degrees without too much trouble. A little more sun and we could move up the list of top 5 warmest Christmases on record, to go with some humid air from the Gulf of Mexico! To our west, severe thunderstorms will be a hazard from eastern TX into OK and eastern KS. Meanwhile heavy snow will be likely on the backside of the system over the northern Plains.
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| Forecast for mid-day Christmas, according to the American GFS computer model, annotated by MWN. (WxBell) |
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| Potential rainfall Monday and Monday night is much lighter than Friday night's system. Totals should be a half inch or so. (WxBell/data from NWS) |
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| Finally, 7 day rainfall projections from the NWS (valid through next Thursday at 6pm) indicate 3-4" of rain will be common across the metro with higher amounts possible where heavier rain falls. (WxBell/data from NWS) |
Erik Proseus
MWN Meteorologist
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