Weekly Weather Watch: Wednesday, November 6th, 2024
Another tremendously wet system is hitting the Central U.S. just days after exceptional rainfall totals measured from Oklahoma to Illinois. This latest system will snarl some commutes/travel from heavy snowfall. In the tropics, we have Hurricane Rafael to watch. There will also be record heat (mostly today) across the East. For Canada, I love seeing that snowfall on the mountains there stretching down into the States. A lot going on in the weather briefing for this week, so let’s get to it.
FYI, monthly members you should have received your November outlook on the 1st. Click here to access your content.
HEADLINERS:
Heavy snowfall for the Southwest and nearby high plains.
Heavy rains will develop for areas in the mid-Mississippi region.
Significant precipitation continues for the Cascades.
Significant snowfall for the Canadian Rockies, an significant precipitation across parts of BC.
Hurricane Rafael enters the Gulf of Mexico.
Slight risk of heavy precipitation across portions of the Central and Southern Plains, Middle and Lower Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys, and the Southeast, Wed-Fri, Nov 13-15.
Slight risk of high winds across portions of Great Plains, Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, Wed-Fri, Nov 13-15.
Slight risk of heavy precipitation across portions of the Pacific Northwest, Wed-Fri, Nov 13-15.
Slight risk of heavy snow across northern portions of the Cascades, Wed-Fri, Nov 13-15.
Slight risk of heavy snow across many portions of the Rockies, Wed-Tue, Nov 13-19.
Slight risk of high winds for much of the western CONUS, and Central and Northern High Plains, Wed-Sun, Nov 13-17.
Slight risk of high winds across coastal portions of southwestern Mainland Alaska and the Aleutians, Thu-Sat, Nov 14-16.
ON THE RADAR:
IN THE GAUGES:
Check out the bullseye of water over the Central to Southern Plains. There’s widespread potential for at least three inches of total water here. Notice how significant precipitation then stretches from the Delta Region into the Appalachians. Plus, the Pacific Northwest hits a super wet period.
GRAB A RULER:
Significant snowfall totals to come during the next 10 days across the West and for the Four Corners Region.
RECORDS MADE TO BE BROKEN:
Most of these records come today, Wednesday.
TROPICAL TIDINGS:
Key Messages per NHC:
1. Rafael is forecast to become a major hurricane before it reaches western Cuba and the Isle of Youth. A hurricane warning is in effect for this region, where a life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and destructive waves are expected.
2. Tropical-storm-force winds, especially in gusts, are expected in the Lower and Middle Florida Keys beginning later today and tonight.
3. Rafael will bring areas of heavy rain to the Cayman Islands and western Cuba through Thursday. Flash flooding and mudslides are expected in areas of higher terrain in western Cuba. 4. It is too soon to determine what, if any, impacts Rafael could bring to portions of the western Gulf Coast. Residents in this area should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.
ARE YOU CIRRUS?!
On this date in weather history:
1988 A powerful storm in the northern Great Lakes dropped 2 feet of snow along the shore of Lake Superior and 3 feet in the Porcupine Mountains of Upper Michigan. Marquette established a November record with 17.3 inches in 24 hours.
2001 Remnants of Hurricanes Michelle and Noel converged, then intensified over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The massive storm blew out car windows, caused blackouts, and swamped wharves. Confederation Bridge closed for the first time ever when winds gusted up to 96 mph.
As we close out 2025 and ring in the new year, the weather pattern stays anything but quiet. A multi-day lake-effect snow event is burying areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, where over 3 feet of snow could fall in the most persistent bands—creating whiteout squalls and treacherous travel through New Year's Day. Meanwhile, Arctic air is spilling deep into the Southeast, sending temperatures below freezing as far south as Florida, with frost and freeze alerts in place. On the other side of the country, a Pacific storm system will bring rounds of heavy rain and a flash flood threat to Southern California, especially around Los Angeles, starting late New Year's Eve. Elsewhere, a couple of fast-moving clippers will spread freezing rain and snow to Alberta, then snow across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and into New England, while a developing storm may bring soaking rain and thunderstorms from the Deep South to the Southeast Coast by the weekend. Even Northern California faces an atmospheric river event late week, setting the stage for an active and disruptive start to 2026.