A big split in the weather pattern will drive the story over the next week. Early-season heat will continue across parts of the Southwest, Plains, and Mississippi Valley, with some areas running more like late spring than late March. At the same time, a strong cold front will sweep across the northern half of the country, bringing rounds of rain, some mountain and northern-tier snow, a chance for strong thunderstorms, and a sharp return to cooler air for the East. By early next week, warmth expands again from the West into the Plains, while increasing Pacific moisture may begin pushing back into the Southwest.
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An active stretch of weather is ahead across much of the country. Strong to severe thunderstorms will bring the risk of large hail, damaging wind, a few tornadoes, and heavy rain from Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley, Mid-South, and Southeast. At the same time, dry and windy conditions will keep fire weather concerns elevated across the Southern High Plains, while cooler air settles into the central and eastern U.S. later this week into the weekend.