From the heavy snows across Denver, Cheyenne and the Rockies yesterday, this extreme pattern is changing shape as we push towards mid week. A powerful ridge building over the West Coast is bringing California it’s first major heat of the year. Although it’s been warm many times up till now, the Los Angeles Basin shall threaten if not exceed 100 degrees for the first time.

US snow cover chart following snowstorm. 7% of nation covered.

Here’s the set up bringing the heat all the way to the beaches this week. (See today’s video too).

ECMWF 500mb at 12z Wednesday (below) shows the huge ridge building onshore on the West Coast while another ‘twin’ ridge brings heat to the East Coast, a major trough is created in between and that’s where our cold and snow is of course.

TOP IMAGE: Source/Credit: WeatherBug

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Here’s the surface chart for the same period.

While it’s the ‘inside slider’ or a low that’s tracking slowly east to the south of Denver, the interaction of the Pacific high moving onshore and that southern CO low, that a strong northeast wind is blowing from desert to ocean (Santa Ana) and of course that means HEAT for SoCal with no marine influence. These winds dry and heat as they get squeezed through narrow passes and canyons on their way towards the Pacific. They further heat an already warm air mass and these winds are warmest and driest by the time they reach the ocean. That’s why it can be as hot right on the beaches as a pose to Downtown or through some of the more inland locales.

Record highs are sure to fall today through Thursday across much of Southern California as well as points north up into the Bay Area.

Wednesday looks to be hottest.

Here’s some current views courtesy of WeatherBug.

Downtown Los Angeles from USC.

Gorgeous afternoon looking out over a glassy Pacific Ocean from the Dolphin Bay Resort at Pismo Beach.

Borrego Springs.

Here’s a look at current temps across the US.

Notice the significant cooling along the Northeast coast thanks to the arrival of the backdoor front drawing cool ocean air in. Check out Boston. 85 this time yesterday, now just 48!

Also note the cold wedge down the spine of the country.

Last night’s lows over Denver in particular didn’t drop anywhere near to the levels expected, largely due to cloud cover. I think it must have gotten into at least the low teens in spots up over the deeply snow covered High Country. The prize for snow total appears to have went to Latigo Ranch near Kremmling, CO with 36 inches. Think Denver received between 3-6 across the Metro area.

Tonight should be another chilly one, especially in the mountains.

The other big weather story through the second half of this week is more severe weather potential (Wednesday, Thursday) but heavy rains could cause fairly widespread issues.

The big trough will continue creeping east, setting up a corridor in which deep tropical moisture stemming all the way from the Caribbean can lift north. We’ve already seen tremendous flooding in Ohio and it looks like some spots ‘could’ get the same problems through the second half of the week as the Appalachians and Coastal Plain take to the stage.

Check out the big rain totals printed out by the QPF.

Next 72 hrs

7 day totals.

This surface chart through 12z Friday with a broader North America view shows moisture extending from the Caribbean up the EC and increasing in intensity as it funnels northward.

Be sure to check out today’s video…

Will have more tomorrow. Have a great night.

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Tags: california heat, flooding rain, heatwave