Chilly Forecast to Bring the Week to a Close Out West

A change is in the air for the western U.S., coming on the heels of record-challenging heat for the region. When will the temperatures begin to tumble and will any precipitation accompany the cooler weather? Read on for everything that you need to know.

Record-Breaking Temperatures Easing Across the West

It was a hot start to April for a large portion of the West, particularly across the Desert Southwest. Phoenix tied the record for its third-earliest date with temperatures in the triple digits last Thursday when the mercury hit 100 degrees. The earliest in the year that the century mark was reached in the Valley of the Sun was in 1988, when this milestone happened on March 26.

Temperatures began to slip over the past weekend after reaching their peak late last week. For instance, Phoenix saw the temperatures slip into the 90s over the weekend. This trend will continue through the middle of the week.

It was a scorcher of a weekend for the Coachella music festival, near Palm Springs, California. The mercury soared to 100 degrees on Friday and Saturday with Sunday's highs dipping just a few notches lower.

An even bigger drop in the temperatures is in store by later this week along with the chance of rain for the lower elevations and accumulating snow for the mountains. For example, Phoenix is forecast to top out in the 80s on Thursday before falling into the 70s for highs on Friday and Saturday.

It will also be more pleasant for those heading out to the second weekend of Coachella. This part of the desert in Southern California is forecast to see a high of just 80 degrees on Friday when the first night of music kicks off. It will be a breezy day in the desert with winds out of the northwest at 15 to 25 mph. The mercury will trend upward as the festival progresses with highs in the mid 80s on Saturday and readings that could hit 90 degrees on Sunday. Festival goers will want to pack a jacket for the evening as lows dip into the upper 50s throughout the weekend.

It was also warmer than usual for the coastal areas of Southern California. Both Burbank and Pasadena experienced their fifth warmest April 9 - 11 on the record books with average highs hovering at 85 degrees. The mercury fell into the 70s for highs over the weekend with more cooling on tap by the end of this week.

The change in this part of the region will feel even more dramatic than the desert terrain with highs struggling to reach the 60-degree mark by Friday in Burbank. Mostly cloudy skies will add to the chill in the air. You can expect sunny skies and readings back in the low 70s by Saturday. Easter Sunday is shaping up to be a lovely day in Burbank with a mix of sun and clouds and a high of about 75 degrees.

Low clouds and fog could present travel disruptions across the California coastline from Santa Barbara and down through Los Angeles and San Diego. The thickness and the duration of the fog will intensify as the week progresses.

Dip in Jet Stream Bringing in Cooler Air and Raising Risk of Thunderstorms

The shift in the weather can be blamed on a significant dip in the jet stream that is forecast to develop beginning Wednesday. This downward bulge will allow cooler air from the north to filter down into the western U.S. In addition, locally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms in a zone from Montana and Idaho and down into California and Nevada will bring the temperatures down even further.

Forecasters are warning that the torrential rain will raise the risk of rapid snowmelt across the Sierra Nevada in the latter portion of the week. The warmer temperatures of the last week have made the snow less stable. Any rain that falls across this terrain will accelerate the melting process, sending water flowing down the mountains and into area streams and rivers. Some of these waterways are also filling beyond their capacity as a result of the typical spring thaw that happens this time of the year.

There is also the chance that some of the thunderstorms could pack severe impacts. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are potential impacts of the anticipated stormy conditions.

High winds will also raise the risk of dust storms and wildfires. This threat will be the greatest in the Desert Southwest and over into the southern Plains. Gusty conditions will also be likely along the Pacific coastline by the end of the week when cooler air moves into the region and disrupts the normal either pattern. As is typical, the most powerful winds will be located over the mountain passes and canyons of the region.

Snow Likely for the Rocky Mountain Region

The most noticeable change in the weather will arrive on Wednesday across the northern Rockies, eventually moving to the south on Thursday and Friday. The influx of cooler weather will track to the east during this time, traveling over the Rockies and into places such as Denver.

The Mile High City saw a new daily high record for April 11 when the mercury inched up to 86 degrees. Just one week later and the Denver area could see the development of light snow as the incoming weather maker drops over the Rocky Mountains.

Denver is expecting a high of about 70 degrees on Thursday just prior to the arrival of the moisture. Rain showers in the evening will transition to snow in the overnight hours as the mercury falls to the 30-degree mark. Winds will also pick up overnight in Denver, hitting speeds of 15 to 25 mph from the north.

Friday's forecast is calling for snowfall accumulations of about 1 to 3 inches on Friday with another 1 to 3 inches in store overnight. Temperatures will hold steady in the low to mid 30s during the day before slipping into the upper 20s after the sun goes down. The chance of light snow will linger into Saturday morning before finally clearing out and supporting a beautiful forecast for Easter Sunday with highs in the mid 60s and sunny skies.

The higher terrains are also expected to accumulate snow from this system. The latest forecast models are predicting that several inches of snow will fall over the northern and central portions of the Rockies and across the Tetons and Wasatch Range. Motorists will want to be aware of the threat of dicey road conditions over the mountain passes in this region of the West.

The snow will arrive earlier in places such as Billings, Montana. This college town is predicted to pick up about an inch of snow on Thursday after seeing 1 to 3 inches of accumulation the night prior. Winds clocking in at 15 to 25 mph overnight Wednesday and into Thursday will send the snow blowing around the roads.

This erratic forecast is a reminder that you should prepare for just about any type of weather during the month of April.

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