Heavy snow, severe weather could rock parts of US as next significant winter storm develops this week
The FOX Forecast Center is tracking the next major storm set to move across the country as we close out January. This storm brings the potential for a wide range of weather threats, including heavy snow, flash flooding and severe storms. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. will be impacted by this system as we approach the weekend.
Major winter storm slowly moves east with snow, severe potential
The final days of January will end with a widespread winter storming moving across the Four Corners region before charging into the Gulf Coast states. The system will bring snow to the Southwest before transitioning to rain with severe thunderstorms in the South.
The FOX Forecast Center is closely monitoring the development of the nation’s next significant storm system, which could produce feet of snow across portions of the Southwest and Plains, while severe weather could rock parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast that were recently slammed by a historic blizzard.
This incoming storm is tied to the remnants of the same system that is bringing beneficial, yet threatening, widespread rain to Southern California on Monday.
The storm is still a few days out, so be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any changes in the forecast.
Here’s what we know
As the storm heads east after impacting California, it will be "cut off" from the northern jet stream, forcing it to become a closed upper-level low-pressure system across the Southwest.
Once it becomes detached from the steering winds high in the atmosphere, the system will begin to slow down. That will allow it to linger from the Four Corners region into the Plains by midweek.
Heavy snow expected from Four Corners into Plains
The cold air will be somewhat limited, but enough arctic air will wrap around the system that a snowstorm could break out in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and portions of the Plains.
The FOX Forecast Center said that depending on the low’s progression, some areas could pick up feet of fresh snow.
Severe storms, heavy rain likely in South
At the same time, limited cold air means a lot of warm air ahead of the system.
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Moisture streaming in from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico will fuel torrential rain across portions of Texas and Oklahoma, extending into areas along the Gulf Coast that received winter weather during a historic blizzard last week.
As the warm and humid air returns, there is the potential for severe weather as we enter the middle of the workweek.
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The FOX Forecast Center said that although it’s still a bit too early to pinpoint specifics, the storm is shaping up to be a widespread and impactful event as it develops during the week ahead.
In addition, forecasters said this could also mark the beginning of a major shift in the weather pattern, with additional storm systems following a similar track as we transition into the start of February.