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Winter weather is far from over, as a wintry mix will span nearly half of the country today bringing snow to many areas, while meteorologists say the conditions in the United States this month are ripe for a widespread outbreak of severe weather; plus more of today’s weather news and forecast.

Lots of snow today and through the weekend

Nearly half of the country will experience winter-like weather today. A wintry mix will span from Washington to Chicago across the central and northern half of the country, while also bringing snow, which will be heavy in some locations.

Heavy snow is forecast for portions of northern California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

The northeast will also experience mixed precipitation over northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and throughout Maine. Northern New Hampshire and eastern and northeastern Maine will have the possibility of freezing rain, while heavy snow is forecast for the northern tip of Maine.

Thunderstorms, severe weather for half of US

The southern half of the US will see widespread rain and thunderstorms spanning the entire width of the lower 48, from California to the Carolinas, and north along the east extending into New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

The areas forecast by the national weather service to experience severe weather today are portions of east central and south central New Mexico, east of Lubbock, Texas, and areas extending south and west.

Expect a volatile weather pattern this month

Already, the year 2020 is off to a volatile start, as the volume of severe weather outbreaks and tornadoes is already well above average due to unseasonably warm conditions.

Last week, the Nashville area saw its most violent tornado in 11 years.

Meteorologists say the jet stream has been shifting around, causing weather systems to move swiftly across the lower 48 states.

Dangerous pattern may develop next week

Forecasters are warning that a potentially dangerous severe weather pattern could form next week, which raises the potential of a widespread outbreak.

One forecast model predicts an area of severe weather extending diagonally from southern Texas, through the midwest, into the Ohio Valley to the western edges of Pennsylvania and New York.

The pattern could affect at least 15 states.

Today’s US highs

West: San Francisco 60, Los Angeles 61, Reno 63, Las Vegas 62, Salt Lake City 52, Denver 46.

Northwest & Northern Rockies: Seattle 41, Portland 62, Boise 53, Billings 35, Cheyenne 30, Bismarck 26, Rapid City 34.

Southwest: Phoenix 65, Albuquerque 62, El Paso 71, San Antonio 82, Brownsville 83.

Central & Upper Midwest: Lubbock 53, Dallas 69, Oklahoma City 51, Kansas City 49, Minneapolis 36, Madison 45.

Ohio Valley: Chicago 48, St. Louis 50, Detroit 46, Cincinnati 53, Indianapolis 50.

South: Houston 80, New Orleans 80, Memphis 58, Atlanta 72, Charlotte 75, Jacksonville 86, Tampa 86, Miami 81.

East: Norfolk 79, Washington, D.C. 73, Buffalo 51, New York 68, Boston 60, Bangor 38.