The start of the week brings varying weather patterns across the U.S., with cooler temperatures and mountain snowfall expected in the West, contrasting sharply with record warmth in the Plains and Midwest.
In the West, a deepening upper-level trough and surface cold front are set to bring increased precipitation, including mountain snow, and gusty winds through Tuesday. Showers and thunderstorms will affect the Pacific Northwest through Monday, while rain and snow spread inland, reaching the northern Rockies and Great Basin by early Tuesday. High-elevation areas could see snowfall of up to 12 inches in the central Rockies and up to 8 inches in the Black Hills. Cooler temperatures will follow, with highs in the 40s and 50s across the region, and gusty winds especially in the Southwest and Rockies. The Storm Prediction Center has also issued a fire weather warning across southern California and the central Plains.
In stark contrast, parts of the Plains and Midwest will experience unusually warm temperatures, potentially tying or breaking records. Highs will reach the 80s and low 90s in the central Plains, with 70s and 80s in the northern Plains and Midwest. This warmth, however, will be short-lived as the Western cold front moves east, bringing cooler temperatures by midweek.…