As one storm system leaves the United States, another is looming later this week, potentially bringing another round of heavy snow and severe weather to parts of the country where part of the weather just ended.
The Fox Prediction Center is predicting a band of heavy snow from Missouri to Michigan, with the possibility of severe thunderstorms in the mid-Atlantic region from Texas to the Carolinas.
As with the past two storm systems, major cities in the Northeast will miss out on snow because temperatures are too warm to prevent precipitation from freezing along the coast.
The storm system has already triggered blizzard warnings for high-elevation areas of the Pacific Northwest, with wind gusts exceeding 160 mph on some ridges.
Major impacts are expected to begin late Thursday across the Plains and continue until the storm moves into Canada and off the East Coast on Saturday.
“We've already gotten through the weekend nor'easter that affected the East Coast, but this storm is still winding down,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. “But the next one will be interesting.”
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That's because the storm's trajectory is similar to the previous one, although it may not be exactly the same.
“The difference between 50 miles and 160 miles of track makes a big difference for a particular city,” she said.
For example, earlier systems didn't bring much snow in Chicago this week.
But that could change with the next storm later this week.
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“The totals were much better in the suburbs,” Merwin said. “But the next storm over the weekend could bring more snow to Chicago than before, and conditions are better.”
Effects of winter weather
Snowfall amounts are expected to be lowest in the Plains, with increased snowfall and precipitation across the Great Lakes.
The first snowflakes are expected to start flying Thursday, with Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Indianapolis all expected to have snow by Friday.
Forecast models say snow levels could reach double digits in some areas of the Great Lakes with wind gusts exceeding 30 mph.
The areas that will see the heaviest snow likely won't be finalized until around Thursday morning, as more accurate computer models are run and will determine where the center of the storm system will move and how much cold air will be available. will be able to decide.
The combination of heavy snow and high winds could make driving along I-80 impossible, and freezing precipitation could reach as far south as I-40.
Cities like Chicago and Detroit are preparing to see at least double their snowfall this season.
The Windy City has only reported about 6 inches of snow since Dec. 1, and Detroit has seen just 1.1 inches of snow.
Areas could experience strong to severe storms as warm air prevails south of Interstate 40.
Impact of bad weather
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has highlighted areas in the South days before the actual storm system arrives, indicating a high degree of certainty for the threat of damaging winds and tornadoes on Thursday and Friday. It means.
Thursday's most dangerous zones are concentrated in East Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The SPC ranked the area at level 2 out of 5 on the thunderstorm danger scale.
By Friday, the threat zone is expected to move eastward, extending from Mississippi to North Carolina.
Forecasters warned that continued instability could make the atmosphere more prone to developing supercell thunderstorms than those experienced earlier this week, which featured a linear storm structure. There is.
Individual cells are known to produce tornadoes that are more powerful than those associated with squall lines, leading to more widespread wind damage.
“Intermittent thunderstorms are always a big concern because they can produce powerful tornadoes,” Merwin said. “It's like coming to a buffet and only having him there. These intermittent thunderstorms can eat up all the energy in the atmosphere.”
Communities such as Dothan, Alabama; Panama City, Florida. Claremont, N.C., which was hit hard by Tuesday's severe weather outbreak, is in the threat area Friday.
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However, the SPC ranked areas of southeastern Alabama, central Georgia, including Atlanta, and the Carolinas at Level 3 out of 5 on the thunderstorm risk scale.
“But the subtropical jets are still sloshing, roaring and active down south because of El Niño,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Steve Bender.
Arctic air continues
Behind the frontal boundary will be the coldest air of the season, with temperatures dropping to about 0 degrees as far south as Missouri and reaching at least -30 degrees along the U.S.-Canada border.
As the next week progresses, the arctic air mass is expected to spread south and east, but the cold air retention pattern remains in question.
Can the cold air stay around for a long time, or will the air mass become calmer and only give us glimpses of winter breezes?
These details are important because the persistence of a cold air mass increases the likelihood that future storm systems will use it to bring snow to areas with historic deficits.
