Kevin Schneider

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<p>While we finish our Thanksgiving food and head back home, loads of people in the Upper Midwest and Northeast are in store for a MAJOR cool down that will stretch into next week. The Climate Prediction Center has great confidence in seeing some well below-average temperatures going through early December.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-28 074118-1764340892649.jpg">But what's going on? Well, it all starts at the Polar Vortex, which typically traps arctic air where it belongs, at the North Pole. However, it's expected to weaken over the next week. As a result, frigid polar air descends south through Canada, impacting northern areas of the U.S.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-26 11-29-15-1764174576719.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Now let's have a look at some of the impacts. Temperatures across the Upper Midwest will dwindle down into the single digits, with places like Minneapolis having a forecast low of four degrees on Monday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 093221-1764433954975.png">We can also expect the winds to kick up as this arctic air makes its way down south. This could spell trouble as some of these wind chill values will likely breach sub-zero temperatures. Some of these values are getting as cold as 30 degrees below zero on Monday morning.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-28 074730-1764341257460.jpg">We could see another round of cold later in the week as well, with EVEN COLDER wind chills possible! Wednesday into Thursday will see the next arctic front drop into the Midwest, bringing wind chills back to the -20 to -30°F range!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-28 07-57-57-1764341911220.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Make sure to stay tuned to WeatherNation, where we're going to be tracking what this system brings all throughout this weekend!</p>

Patrick Crawford

Major Cooldown in Store for the Upper-Midwest

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Brittany Lockley

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<p>An ongoing powerful winter storm will&nbsp;sweep from the Rockies into the Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend, bringing a widespread mix of heavy snow, gusty winds, and hazardous travel conditions. The system will first develop across the northern Rockies and High Plains late Friday. Snow totals got up to 8 inches in Montana.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 061434-1764422092831.jpg"></p><h1>North Side</h1><p>The system is now on the move headed east. &nbsp;As colder air wraps around the strengthening low-pressure center, bands of moderate to heavy snow are expected to form across states such as Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The forecast indicates that many areas in this corridor could receive six to twelve inches of snow, with localized totals exceeding a foot where the storm’s heaviest bands set up. Strong winds may accompany the snow, leading to blowing and drifting that sharply reduces visibility and creates periods of near-whiteout conditions on open roadways.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 091859-1764433161949.png"></p><p>By Saturday night, the storm’s center is expected to track through the Great Lakes region, continuing to spread snow into Michigan, northern Indiana, and parts of Ohio while producing lake-enhanced snowfall downwind of the Great Lakes. These lake-effect bands may intensify rapidly, generating sudden bursts of heavy snow and creating unpredictable travel hazards. On Sunday, as the storm pushes eastward, lingering snow and mixed precipitation may affect parts of the Northeast and Appalachians, although areas nearer the coast may see more rain than snow.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-29 09-17-04-1764433086077.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>This system will also bring the coldest air of the season so far, as temperatures will struggle to warm above freezing for some throughout the weekend. Overnight lows could fall as low as the single digits in some places by Monday morning.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 091955-1764433210846.png"></p><p>Make sure to prepare for difficult travel conditions and consider delaying nonessential trips, especially during the height of the storm on Saturday and Saturday night. Those who must travel should plan for extended travel times, carry winter emergency supplies, and monitor updates. This storm’s combination of heavy snow, strong winds, and varying precipitation types makes it one of the more impactful winter systems so far this season, and staying informed will be key to navigating its effects safely.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><h1>South Side</h1><p>Farther south and east, where surface temperatures hover closer to freezing, the storm may produce a wintry mix of sleet or freezing rain before shifting to snow as colder air filters in. This transition zone could see rapidly changing road conditions, with slick surfaces forming even before significant snow arrives. The clash between the two air masses will lead to strong storms.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 125600-1764187969050.png"></p><p>The is the possibility of severe weather on Saturday, particularly across East Texas and into northern Louisiana in the afternoon hours. The Storm Prediction Center is highlighting an area from Shreveport to Houston to kick off the weekend with the best bet right now for severe storms. This comes just days after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/north-side-of-houston-struck-by-tornado-monday"><strong>two tornadoes touched down near Houston</strong></a>.</p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 092046-1764433260544.png"></p><p>Storms are mostly expected to reach severe limits from the late afternoon through the overnight. Have multiple ways to get severe weather alerts in case of a tornado.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-29 09-21-23-1764433330185.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Stay tuned to WeatherNation TV for the latest developments.</p>

Major Winter Storm Will Disrupt Travel This Weekend

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<p style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #454545;">Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a></span></p>

Rob Bradley

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<p>The "Mile High" city finally recorded it's first snowfall of the season two days after thanksgiving as a strong trough moved through the northern Rockies.<br><br>To count as "measurable" snow, it needs to accumulate to at least one-tenth of an inch, which the Denver airport doubled with a quick round of snowfall Saturday morning. The first snow date of November 29th makes it Denver's 2nd latest start to the snow season on record, with 2021 being the only year with a later first snow.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 082401-1764430054403.png"></p><p>The snowfall also ended a long streak of snow-less days, tied for the third longest since record keeping began.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 082406-1764430062849.png"></p><p>Areas in Montana and Wyoming saw heavier snow, with some totals surpassing 8-10".</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 082422-1764430070999.png"></p><h1>Next Round</h1><p>A trailing low pressure system will bring snow back the Mountain West from Sunday into Monday as it dives from Oregon to New Mexico. I-70, I-15, I-84, and I-80 could see snow accumulating on Sunday, causing slow downs to post-Thanksgiving travel.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-29 08-26-24-1764430184215.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>While the mountains look to see 6-12 inches of new snow, areas along I-25, including Denver, are only expected a dusting to an inch or two.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-29 082617-1764430079113.png"></p>

Denver Finally Measures Snow, More Coming to the Rockies

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<h1><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/2025-atlantic-hurricane-season-marked-by-striking-contrasts">COURTESY: NOAA</a></h1><p>The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=atl"><u>2025 Atlantic hurricane season</u></a>, which officially ends on November 30, was notable for its striking contrast — wavering between periods of relative calm and bursts of intense activity, generating very powerful storms. Overall, the season fell within the predicted ranges for named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes issued in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/prediction-remains-on-track-for-above-normal-atlantic-hurricane-season"><u>NOAA’s seasonal outlooks</u></a>.</p><p style="text-align: start">"For the first time in a decade, not a single hurricane struck the U.S. this season, and that was a much needed break,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Still, a tropical storm caused damage and casualties in the Carolinas, distant hurricanes created rough ocean waters that caused property damage along the East Coast, and neighboring countries experienced direct hits from hurricanes."</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IhS5UIupb2I" start="0"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: start">“The 2025 season was the first year NOAA’s National Hurricane Center incorporated Artificial Intelligence model guidance into their forecasts,” added Jacobs. “The NHC performed exceedingly well when it came to forecasting rapid intensification for some of the more impactful storms and provided critical decision support for our Caribbean partners.”</p><p style="text-align: start">The Atlantic basin produced 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which five became hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including four major hurricanes with winds reaching 111 mph or greater. An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/Background.html"><u>average season</u></a> has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140651-1764191236763.png"></p><p style="text-align: start">“Throughout the hurricane season, and all year long, the National Weather Service works around the clock to meet our mission of saving lives, protecting property and enhancing the national economy,” said Ken Graham, director, NOAA's National Weather Service. “I'm grateful to this talented team for their steadfast dedication to the safety of the American public.”</p><p style="text-align: start">While the climatological peak of the hurricane season was quiet with no tropical activity, the season generated three Category 5 hurricanes, the second-most on record in a single season.&nbsp;“Fortunately, short-term weather patterns largely steered tropical systems away from the United States,” Graham added.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140535-1764191145942.png">Tropical cyclone names are selected each year by the World Meteorological Organization (online at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wmo.int/).(Image">https://wmo.int/)</a></p><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Atlantic Basin: Key Storms and Statistics</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Tropical Storm Andrea</strong> formed on June 23, kicking off the season.&nbsp;<strong>Tropical storms Barry and Chantal</strong> then developed in rapid succession, before activity took a pause. The remnants of Barry added to the catastrophic flooding events in southern Texas on the Fourth of July.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140753-1764191281552.png">Chantal was the only storm to make landfall in the U.S., bringing excessive rainfall and flooding to North Carolina.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140859-1764191350109.png"></p><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Hurricane Erin</strong> was the first Category 5 storm of the season and brought storm surge and tropical storm conditions to the North Carolina Outer Banks and rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast. Erin underwent rapid intensification, and is tied for the fifth-fastest 24-hour increase in maximum sustained winds on record, from 75 mph to 160 mph. Erin also tied for the third-fastest 24-hour pressure drop in the Atlantic basin on record, dropping 83 millibars from 998 mb to 915 mb.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Hurricane Humberto</strong> became the second Category 5 hurricane, and soon after,&nbsp; <strong>Hurricane Imelda</strong> developed and became the final storm of September.&nbsp;Humberto was helpful in pulling Imelda out into the Atlantic and away from the U.S. coast. Still, despite the fact that they were thousands of miles away, they still brought coastal erosion to the Outer Banks for North Carolina.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 141013-1764191422252.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 141148-1764191520342.png"></p><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Hurricane Melissa</strong> developed into the third Category 5 hurricane of the season, and became one of the strongest Atlantic basin hurricane landfalls on record when it made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, bringing extensive damage to Jamaica, Hispaniola, and eastern Cuba. Melissa was the fourth storm to undergo rapid intensification this year, with a 115-mph wind increase and a 90 millibar decrease in central pressure in a 72-hour period ending at 11 a.m. EDT on October 28.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start">Four days before Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica, the NHC projected a path over western Jamaica, a forecast that ended up with a track difference of only about 13 miles. “NHC’s intensity forecasts for Melissa outperformed every model at nearly every lead time and provided almost three days of advance notice that Melissa would make landfall in Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 hurricane,” said Michael Brennan, Ph.D., director, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “This lead time was remarkable because it was the first time NHC forecasted a hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity from such a low initial intensity when the forecast was first issued.”</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 141250-1764191579687.png"></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyG0HraZqRI" start="0"></iframe></div><hr><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">Hurricane season activity was near-normal for both the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=epac"><u>Eastern Pacific basin</u></a> and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=cpac"><u>Central Pacific basin</u></a> and fell within predicted ranges, respectively.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start">The Eastern Pacific basin hurricane season produced 18 named storms, with nine becoming hurricanes and three intensifying to major hurricane status. Two named storms formed in the Central Pacific basin, with one, Iona, becoming a major hurricane well south of Hawaii. Eastern Pacific storms Henriette and Kiko were also hurricanes in the Central Pacific that passed northeast of Hawaii with little impact to the state.</p><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Season Scorecard: NOAA’s Research and Response</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">This season,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/aircraft-operations/about/hurricane-hunters"><u>NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft</u></a> flew 417 mission hours to collect atmospheric data that is critical to hurricane forecasting and research, passing through the eye of a hurricane 53 times and deploying more than 1,300 scientific instruments.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/"><u>NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory</u></a> hurricane researchers participated in&nbsp;52 Hurricane Hunter missions, processing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/real-time-doppler-radar/"><u>Tail Doppler Radar</u></a> scans and more than 1,100&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.omao.noaa.gov/aircraft-operations/dropsondes-minisondes-advancing-atmospheric-research"><u>dropsonde</u></a>&nbsp;profiles that were used to inform real-time decisions and improve forecasts. For the first time, an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/mini-ocean-robot-collects-data-in-category-5-hurricane/#:~:text=NOAA%20has%20teamed%20up%20with,27%2D29%2C%202025"><u>uncrewed surface vehicle</u></a> captured and transmitted data from inside a Category 5 hurricane (Humberto) — a groundbreaking step in the mission to improve weather forecasting capabilities using new technologies.</p><p style="text-align: start">NOAA's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/"><u>National Ocean Service</u></a> captured thousands of aerial images in the wake of hurricanes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/aug25/ngs-hurricane-erin.html"><u>Erin</u></a> and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/melissa/index.html#9/18.18/-77.39"><u>Melissa</u></a>.&nbsp;After Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey supported the U.S. Department of State with its humanitarian response and recovery efforts, using&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://omao.noaa.gov/aircraft-operations"><u>NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations aircraft and crews</u></a>. NOAA aircraft captured high-resolution imagery across approximately 1,573 square miles (4,075 square kilometers), logging over 55 flight hours and collecting nearly 15,000 image frames.</p><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Storm-by-Storm Analysis&nbsp;</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">NOAA’s National Hurricane Center will produce a Tropical Cyclone Report to comprehensively document each named storm from the 2025 season. The reports will be published as they are completed through early next year and will be available on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=atl"><u>Tropical Cyclone Report site</u></a>.</p>

Atlantic Hurricane Season Closes Near Normal

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<p>It is that time of year again—when millions of Americans hit the road or the skies to connect with friends and family. AAA is expecting a record number of travelers this year, surpassing the record-breaking 2024. Most travelers will be hitting the road vs flying.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o78PUXSJCJU" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 104347-1763401813998.png"></p><p>With millions hitting the roads, traffic will be hard to avoid, no matter where you are heading. However, there will be some better times to do your traveling. AAA suggests starting the journey early, but with a reasonable night of sleep the night prior.</p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 105052-1763401888415.png"></p><p>With so many traveling over the holidays, there are some favored destinations. Besides New York City, the other nine top destinations favor warm weather in late November.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 110215-1763402544204.png">How does this compare to previous years? With more than 6 million people expected to fly, that's a 2% increase compared to last year, but it's a more than 10% jump compared to pre-pandemic levels!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 105653-1763402231681.png"></p>

A Record Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Week Expected

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<p>An upper-level trough moving through the Great Lakes will head to the Northeast to bring rain, snow, winds, and lake effect snow this Thanksgiving.</p><h2>TIMING</h2><p>A low-pressure system working over the Great Lakes and northeast will continue to produce heavy snowfall, especially when our cold north-westerly winds get cranking over the warm Great Lakes that remain unfrozen.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-27 08-16-49-1764256664379.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><h2>AMOUNTS</h2><p>Some areas of the lower Great Lakes have already received more than seven inches of snowfall with this setup. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-28 075549-1764341761306.jpg"></p><p><strong>Winter weather alerts </strong>remain in place issued across the eastern shores of the Great Lakes through Friday. These winter alerts are for widely varying snowfall totals, with up to an additional six inches possible. Heavy snow and gusty winds could lead to whiteout conditions, where Snow Squall Warnings might be warranted. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-28 075650-1764341819659.jpg"></p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-28 075729-1764341911365.jpg"></h2>

Lake Effect Snow for the Northeast

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<p>Areas in southeast Houston quickly took cover as a tornado-warned storm clipped some of the northeast suburbs. Multiple people saw this on the ground, with confirmation coming from radar that afternoon, as well. Below is the lifespan of the storms, as it went into areas close to The Woodlands and Spring.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-25 08-19-33-1764084060214.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The storm left pretty extensive damage in its wake, toppling trees and damaging roofs early Monday afternoon. Far from the only storm, it was certainly the strongest.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1993122468408774968" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1993122468408774968?s=20"></div><p>So far, survey crews have found EF-2 damage near Klein, Texas, and EF-1 damage near Riata Ranch.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-25 163728-1764113858865.png"></p>

NWS Houston Confirms Two Tornadoes from Monday's Storms

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In early 2017, California was coming out of a historic drought that lasted for five years.  Heavy rainfall during the wet season filled California's reservoirs.  But a big factor in drought recovery, was the snowfall during the winter of 2016-2017.  Last winter, an abundance of snow fell across the Sierra Nevada.  But this year, it's a very different story.  Snowpack is well below average.

Checking out the numbers in the two images below, most of the Sierra Nevada snow levels are running below 40% of normal.  Snow water equivalent values in Lake Tahoe are only 27% of normal.

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-87352 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/02/california2.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="744" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-87355 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/02/california5.jpg" alt="" width="695" height="908" />

But a picture of the snowpack last year, versus this year, really tells the story.  The image on the left shows heavy snowpack on the Sierra Nevada on January 28th, 2017.  The image on the right shows the lack of snowpack on the same area as of February 8th, 2018.  The average snow depth across the Sierra Nevada is currently just 3.4 inches.  Last year, at the same time, the average snow depth was 46.0 inches.

<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/02/california1.jpg" />

So far this winter, most of the storm tracks have been starting in the northwest, and tracking to the southeast.  These tracks have kept the eastern U.S. colder and wetter than average.  However, much of the southwest has missed out on moisture from these storms, staying warmer and drier than usual.  A persistent ridge of high pressure off the California coast, has been blocking the storms from the Pacific.

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However, it looks like early next week, high pressure will be replaced by low pressure.  This will funnel in Pacific moisture, and bring some rain and snow chances for the southwest.

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Water levels in California's reservoirs are still fairly high, so there are no immediate concerns.  However, a dry winter means less spring and summer snow-melt, which helps keep reservoir levels high during the dry summer months.  Hopefully low pressure systems will become more common for the remainder of winter, and the overall pattern will change from dry to wet.  California and much of the southwest would benefit greatly from more rain and more mountain snow.

For WeatherNation:  Meteorologist Matt Monroe

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An upper-level trough moving through the Grea

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Areas in southeast Houston quickly took cover

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COURTESY: NOAAThe 2025 Atlantic hurrican