Next Chance for Precipitation in the Southwest

1 Mar 2021, 11:52 am

The southwestern United States has been relatively dry, rain-free, and windy which has contributed to fire weather concern and drought-conditions. BUT, there may be a shot for some relief on the way as we track a mid-week upper level low. Let’s take a look at the forecast.

Set-Up

Forecast

Starting Wednesday late morning/midday, the surface low develops off the Pacific and heads towards Southern California. Los Angeles through San Diego start to see some heavier rain as we head into the afternoon and even some of the higher elevations may see some snow.

Some of the wrap around moisture even makes it’s way into Arizona where we could see a few isolated showers too.

As the low moves onshore we continue to pump moisture into the Four Corners region.

By Thursday night, more the moisture heads towards the Utah and Colorado areas where the higher elevations may see snow and lower valleys see rain. Most of the rain for SoCal is done by late afternoon.

Overnight, temperatures drop and we could see more snowfall filling into the Rockies of Colorado and Wyoming and even into Utah.

By Thursday daybreak the moisture tapers off and so do our rain and snow chances.

Forecast Accumulation

Wednesday

Southern California could see up to 0.5-1″ in some spots which is always well-received. The mountains could see some higher accumulations in the purples up to half a foot + in some spots!

Thursday

Extended Outlook

About the author

Alana Cameron

Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where sh... Load Moree completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!