Norfolk Closes Floodgates Ahead Of Nor'easter

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Big changes are ahead for parts of the U.S. in the week ahead, as a pattern shift will send the atmospheric pressure downward toward the East and upward in the West. This will correspond with the possibility of more rain and snow in the East while the western drought grows.

Here are five things to watch in this week's weather.

1. Early-Week Snow in the East

A disturbance in the upper atmosphere will move through the Great Lakes region and into the Ohio Valley and Northeast Monday into Tuesday. This system will have a meager amount of moisture to work with but will produce some light snowfall along its path.

The light to locally moderate snowfall may affect travel in the Ohio Valley, interior Northeast, Appalachians and mid-Atlantic Monday into Monday night. Some local enhancement from the eastern Great Lakes is expected. 

On Tuesday, the light snow may continue in parts of the mid-Atlantic region, including parts of the Washington D.C. and Baltimore metro areas, potentially affecting the morning commute.

Portions of southeast New England could also see accumulating snow Monday into Tuesday as an offshore low-pressure system clips the region.

Snowfall totals should be on the low-end, with a dusting to an inch or two in most spots. 

(MORE: Early-Week Snow in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast)

2. Late-Week System Could Bring More Rain and Snow to the East

A pattern change will be in full swing toward the end of the week. A deep dip in the jet stream is expected to dig southward east of the Mississippi River beginning late Thursday or early Friday. 

As the jet stream drops southward out of central Canada, it will usher in a new blast of cold air as far south as Florida. 

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

At the surface, a wave of low pressure may develop ahead of the digging jet stream, then move northeastward through the eastern states. This system could have enough moisture and cold air to work with in order to produce light snow in parts of the Ohio Valley, mid-South, Appalachians and Northeast.

This does not appear to be a major snowstorm at this time but check back with weather.com for updates in the week ahead.

(MORE: Two Snowmakers Could Affect the Ohio Valley, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic This Week)

3. Temperature Roller Coaster Mid- to Late Week East of the Rockies

The two previously mentioned systems will each cause temperatures to drop during the week, with warm air surging northward in between the two Arctic surges.

The first drop in temperatures began on Sunday in the northern Plains while the rest of the country was 5 to 20 degrees above average. The edge of this cold air will reach the East Coast on Tuesday as the first weather-maker pulls away.

Temperatures from Florida to New York will be as much as 10 degrees below average. This translates to temperatures in the teens, 20s and 30s in the Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic on Monday and Tuesday, with 40s and 50s covering much of the South. Highs in the 60s and 70s will persist in southern Florida.

A subtropical surge of warm air will push northward across the Plains midweek ahead of the second, larger Arctic invasion. Temperatures could climb into the 60s as far north as eastern Colorado, western Nebraska and western Kansas. 

The second drop in temperatures is expected to arrive by Thursday in the northern Plains. Highs in the northern Plains and upper Midwest will range from around 0 degrees to the lower teens on Thursday and Friday. The cold air will reach the Appalachians on Friday, which should keep high temperatures in most of the Midwest, interior Northeast and mid-South below 40 degrees.

(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)

4. Little to No Rain Found in the Southwest This Week

A northward bulge in the jet stream is expected to be positioned near the U.S. West Coast for much of the upcoming work week. This will lead to very dry and warm conditions across much of the Southwest. 

The storm track will take storms up and over the Pacific Northwest through the Plains and into the South or Ohio Valley, where they will deposit their moisture. This will leave the Southwest high and dry. 

This region is currently in the midst of a moderate to severe drought that has already led to fires in Texas and California this winter. This is fairly typical of the La Niña pattern in North America, which usually consists of drier-than-average conditions in the southern tier of the United States. 

Drought conditions are expected to persist or intensify into the spring. 

5. Santa Ana Winds Will Increase Fire Potential Through Monday

An additional unwanted side effect of the western ridge of high pressure is that it has helped to kick up another Santa Ana wind event across Southern California. 

Northeast winds over this region, combined with near-record or record-high temperatures, very low humidity and dry vegetation, could help fires grow and spread into Monday, should any develop.

Wind gusts as high as 65 mph are possible in the mountains of Southern California. A few gusts up to 70 mph are possible in the most wind-prone canyons and valleys of the region into Monday. 

(FORECAST: Los Angeles | San Diego | Santa Barbara)

Record-high temperatures are possible across the Southwest into Monday, including in Phoenix, Long Beach, California, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. Highs are expected to be in the 80s across the lower elevations of Southern California.