Heavy Rain Hits Southern Plains and Southwest as Mountain Snow Returns West

Heavy rain is the main story across parts of the Southern Plains into Friday. Moisture from Tropical Storm Vance will bring several inches of rainfall to west-central Texas, with lesser amounts reaching into western Oklahoma. Southeastern New Mexico into west-central Texas faces the greatest risk of heavy amounts that could affect roads and low-lying areas.

The Southwest will see increasing rain by Friday and especially through the weekend as more Pacific moisture arrives. South-central Arizona has the highest concern for heavier totals, while a broader area from southern California into western Texas could see enough rain to cause localized problems given how wet the region has already been.

California and the rest of the West Coast will pick up more precipitation as the moisture stream continues. Rain will be the main story at lower elevations, while higher terrain turns to snow. The wet pattern expands further across the West on Saturday.

A deep weather system lingering off the Pacific Northwest coast will keep some moisture flowing into the region. Rain is expected at lower elevations, with snow in the mountains. The highest peaks, mostly above 9,000 feet, could pick up more than a foot of snow.

Mountain snow will expand across the West on Saturday as the moisture and system push farther inland. The tallest elevations are favored for the heaviest accumulations, while valleys and lower slopes stay mostly rainy. Travel through mountain passes could become slower where snow piles up.

Showers and thunderstorms will spread eastward into the rest of the Plains on Saturday as the moisture interacts with a frontal boundary. Rainfall amounts should be lighter than the heavier totals farther south and west, but the activity can still make outdoor plans wetter than usual.

The same frontal boundary and moisture will bring showers and thunderstorms into the Lower Mississippi Valley on Saturday. No widespread heavy rain is expected there, but the added moisture can leave roads slick and interrupt outdoor activities for a time.

Much of the Northeast, Midwest, Great Lakes, and Southeast away from the Lower Mississippi Valley should stay quieter through the weekend with no major storms or heavy precipitation highlighted. Temperatures and daily routines are expected to remain near normal for late October in those areas.