CONUS - Bitter Cold and Winter Storms: Impactful Weather Ahead!
Get ready for quite the weather week as arctic cold spreads across the Plains and East Coast while a winter storm brings snow, sleet, and freezing rain to parts of the Mid-Mississippi Valley and southern Mid-Atlantic. The Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies aren’t left out either, with mountain snow and rain. Stay warm and safe!
Big Chill in the Plains and East
The north-central U.S. is already feeling the effects of a bitter cold air mass, which will continue to spread south and east. A high pressure system moving in from Canada will lead to frigid temperatures well below zero from Montana and the Dakotas through the Upper Midwest and into the central Plains. Wind chills could drop to a life-threatening 60 degrees below zero in northeast Montana to North Dakota. By Wednesday, this cold will extend to northern Mexico and the northern Gulf of America, hitting Oklahoma and northwest Texas with single-digit lows. The only warmer spot will be the Florida Peninsula. Expect daytime highs below freezing in areas between central Texas and the southern Mid-Atlantic. Dress warmly and stay safe if you venture outside!
Winter Storm on the Move
Our winter storm is going to bring a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the central Plains to the southern Mid-Atlantic through midweek. Starting tonight, moderate to heavy snow will hit from parts of Kansas and northern Oklahoma into the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. By early Wednesday, lighter snow will reach the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. South of this snowy area, freezing rain and sleet could cover places from central Oklahoma to northern Mississippi. The heaviest snow—up to 8 inches—is likely near the borders of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. As Tuesday night turns to Wednesday, the storm moves east, bringing heavy rain and potential flooding along the Gulf Coast, then spreading into the Carolinas and southern Mid-Atlantic. Be cautious of heavy snow and freezing rain along the VA-NC border and the southern Delmarva Peninsula.
Mountain Snow and Rain in the Northwest
In the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, expect mountain snow and some lower elevation rain through Tuesday. A new Pacific storm will bring more snow early Wednesday. While mostly beneficial, watch out for dangerous driving through mountain passes. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes area will see more lake-effect snow downwind of Lake Ontario, with up to 8 inches expected between Rochester and Syracuse, NY.
With the potential for severe weather, especially in areas prone to flooding and other adverse conditions, it's important to stay updated with local forecasts and advisories, check out our current weather and forecast visualization maps, as well as selected areas below related to our report. Use the slider to move forward and back in the days and time to view how forecasts will affect an area; the related timestamp is located above the Play button. Be Safe!