Parade of winter storms to blast across US with snow expected for 200 million in 40 states
The FOX Forecast Center said at least three separate winter storms are expected to sweep across a large portion of the U.S. during the week ahead, bringing the threat of widespread snow and ice to tens, if not hundreds, of millions of Americans from coast to coast.
Parade of winter storms hitting Plains, Northeast this week
After a snowy weekend, three more storms are set to slam the Plains and Northeast with snow throughout this week. The next storm will hit Tuesday and Wednesday.
Fast Facts:
- Nearly 200 million in 40 states could see snow during the week ahead as a trio of winter storms slide across the U.S.
- Northeast could see its snowiest stretch of weather in years.
- Snow totals could be measured in feet by week’s end.
BOSTON – If you were hoping the U.S. had turned a corner and more springlike weather was on the way, you’re going to have to hold on a bit longer as the FOX Forecast Center tracks what is shaping up to be an incredibly active week for winter weather across the nation.
This renewed threat comes just as millions of people across the Northeast and New England clean up in the wake of a winter storm over the weekend that dumped several inches of snow across the region.
Triple threat of winter storms looms this week
The FOX Forecast Center said at least three separate winter storms are expected to sweep across a large portion of the U.S. during the week ahead, bringing the threat of widespread snow and ice to tens, if not hundreds, of millions of Americans from coast to coast.
Flooding, too, will be a concern, as torrential rain to the south falls across the Southeast as the parade of storms sweeps across the U.S.
First winter storm develops in Plains Monday, sweeps into mid-Atlantic Tuesday
The first winter storm of the series is expected to develop over the Plains later Monday before blasting across the Ohio Valley and into the mid-Atlantic on Tuesday.
This storm, the FOX Forecast Center said, will track farther to the south than the storm that impacted millions in the Northeast and New England over the weekend, with the snow bull’s-eye setting up across the mid-Atlantic states.
Unlike the previous storm, this one will lack a well-defined area of low pressure, which will then limit the amount of cold air available to mix in with the moisture streaming in from the South.
As a result, while snow will fall across nearly a dozen states, forecast snow totals are expected to be light to moderate due to the lack of cold air.
Nonetheless, winter weather alerts have been posted for millions of people from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic states.
The storm is expected to move into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday, and then slam the mid-Atlantic and portions of the Northeast later Tuesday and into Wednesday morning before the system pushes offshore.
Washington has been placed under a Winter Storm Warning through Wednesday morning, while Baltimore is under a Winter Weather Advisory and Richmond, Virginia, is under a Winter Storm Watch. Heavy snow is possible, with totals between 4 and 6 inches.
Winter Storm Warnings are also in effect for portions of northwestern North Carolina, central and western Virginia and eastern West Virginia.
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Second storm develops as first pushes off East Coast
As that first storm begins to wind down over the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Wednesday, the second storm will already be developing over the Plains.
The FOX Forecast Center said the storm will spread snow into the Midwest by Wednesday night before setting its sights on the Northeast on Thursday.
A Winter Storm Watch extends from portions of eastern Colorado through most of Kansas, southern Nebraska, central and northern Missouri, southeastern Iowa, western and northern Illinois, southeastern Wisconsin, northwestern Indiana and parts of Lower Michigan.
Chicago, Milwaukee and Kansas City are all included in the Winter Storm Watches.
The National Weather Service said the storm will exit the Rockies on Tuesday and will impact the central Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night.
Heavy snow is possible by early Wednesday, with some snowfall rates of around an inch per hour that could allow about 5 inches of snow accumulation for much of central Kansas along the Interstate 70 corridor.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued a verbal state of disaster emergency proclamation over the weekend due to the impending winter storms that will impact the state this week.
"Kansans have faced challenges due to winter storms this year," Kelly said in a statement. "The key to meeting those challenges is to be prepared. As I did during past storms, I urge all Kansans to take measures to make sure their families are ready by making a home emergency kit and emergency plan."
In addition, Kelly urged residents to avoid travel if possible. If travel is needed, it is advised to tell someone your travel plans, ensure the vehicle has a full tank of gas, and keep an emergency kit inside the vehicle.
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The FOX Forecast Center said this storm could potentially produce the highest snow totals of the three, as heavy snow is looking more likely from the Plains to New England.
As of Monday, the FOX Forecast Center said the busy Interstate 95 corridor is looking more wet than white, but that will come into better focus as the week goes on.
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Third storm to impact some weekend plans
The last storm, for now, is expected to take shape late this week and continue into the weekend, bringing yet another round of winter weather to cities from the Plains to New England.
The FOX Forecast Center said this relentless winter weather pattern could continue into next week, but it’s still too soon to know that for certain.
Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any changes in the forecast.