Weather

Clouds, showers and thunderstorms will dampen part of South Florida on Saturday. A front is forecast to stall over the region. Not enough rain is likely to fall to have much effect on the drought and wildfire situation.

Farther northwest, most areas from Maine to northern Florida to Texas can expect dry weather and sunshine. High pressure will sprawl over this region and will be centered over eastern North Carolina.

A storm will affect the Midwest. Locally heavy snow is forecast to fall on the upper Great Lakes region. Gusty winds will circulate around the storm and are likely to cause blowing and drifting snow. However, the strongest winds are projected to be centered around the lower Great Lakes region. Gusts topping 50 mph may occur in this zone, which is strong enough to down tree limbs and trigger power outages. Airline delays are possible at the major hubs in the Midwest due to the strong winds. Showers will extend from the lower Great Lakes to the southern Plains.

Farther west, snow is forecast to develop over the northern Rockies and spread to the central High Plains. Much of the balance of the West can expect dry weather and a good deal of sunshine.

Focus: Extreme Drought Expands

The drought across the southwest and southern Plains continues to expand due to a lack of rain. Extreme drought conditions are ongoing across parts of Arizona, northern New Mexico, the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma and Kansas.