Weather

Cooler, drier air will settle Friday from the Appalachians to the East Coast. The cooler conditions will follow a stormy start to the day along the Northeast coast as Tropical Storm Michael departs. Some rivers will continue to rise in the Southeast in the wake of the storm’s recent rainfall. Showers, thunderstorms and humid air are expected to linger in South Florida. It will turn chilly enough to allow wet snowflakes to mix with rain over parts of the eastern Great Lakes to the central Appalachians. It may be cold enough Friday night for a freeze over parts of the Upper Midwest. The cool and dry air in the Southeast should provide relief to the many people who have no electricity and therefore no way to run air conditioners.

Clouds and rain are projected to extend from parts of Texas to Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Kentucky. Downpours will spread into parts of southern New Mexico and Arizona as Tropical Storm Sergio reaches the northwestern coast of Mexico and moisture moves to the northeast of the storm center. Spotty rain showers will precede snow showers over Montana, ahead of an influx of colder air. The cold air may fuel snowstorms over parts of the Rockies and High Plains this weekend.

FOCUS: Hurricane Leslie Continues In the Atlantic Ocean

After initially forming on Sept. 23, Hurricane Leslie continues to circulate in the Atlantic Ocean. Into the weekend, the storm will gradually weaken as it begins moving south, just west of the Canary Islands. Rough waves will continue around the storm.