West Cools and East Warms Up Ahead of Easter Weekend

The upcoming weather may feel like an April Fool's Day joke after the trends of the last few weeks. Just as the calendar flips to April, the West will cool down and the East will see the warmth build. This is in direct contrast to the last few weeks. However, the trend will not last long, as forecasters are predicting another flip in the condition over the holiday weekend. Here is all that you need to know about this topsy-turvy forecast.

Western U.S. Sees Relief from Heat and More Moisture

The cooler air mass that made its way into the toasty West on Monday will continue to settle over the region, providing a respite from the record-breaking temperatures of the last few weeks. Conversely, the warmth will expand across the eastern U.S. ahead of the Easter holiday before the next change in the pattern arrives.

The temperature change has been quite noticeable this week for a large portion of the western U.S. For instance, after sizzling with readings in the 90s for nearly two weeks, Las Vegas topped out with highs in the 80s on Monday. Temperatures are expected to hover in the 70s for highs for the balance of the week.

It has been a similar reversal in Phoenix. The Valley of the Sun had been sweating for weeks with the earliest triple-digit readings of the year ever recorded. Daily highs will max out in the 80s on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, before making another upward climb just in time for the weekend.

In addition to the cooler temperatures in the Southwest, the western U.S. will also see rain showers and mountain snow across the Pacific Northwest and over into the northern and central Rockies. While these are not expected to be blockbuster moisture events, there will be enough cloud cover to bring down the temperatures and keep them there for a few days.

Wetter Pattern Will Accompany Warmth in the Central and Eastern U.S.

The moisture moving across the West will track into much of the central and eastern U.S. in the days ahead. The warming trend will also bring along heavy rain at times.