A pair of winter storms will wring out more snow and ice during the week of Presidents Day from the West to the Plains, Midwest and Northeast.
True to form for the typically busy month of February, the weather pattern is setting up for an active week ahead, with impacts over much of the country.
First, the jet stream will take another sharp southward plunge into the West early next week. A surge of energy will swing east out of that jet stream plunge early next week, followed by a second, stronger disturbance later in the week.
As that's happening, a fresh blast of Arctic cold air will plunge south from Canada into the West, central U.S. and, eventually, parts of the East next week. Each low-pressure system will pull moisture into that cold air, producing snow and ice.
As is typical several days out, there are key details that remain unclear, particularly with the second system later next week, so check back to weather.com and The Weather Channel app in the coming days for important updates as the forecast comes into focus.
For now, let's lay out what we know and don't yet know, starting with the first storm.
First Storm: Early Week
A small disturbance riding the U.S./Canada border in the Plains ahead of the big storm system. That distubance, a quick-moving clipper system for North Dakota and Minnesota, is expected to cause gusty winds and some modest snowfall through Sunday. Areas of blizzard conditions are expected along the North Dakota/Minnesota border.
Winter weather alerts are in place ahead of this first winter storm from the Cascades of Washington and Oregon to the Midwest. Conditions are expected to be worst where winter storm watches and warnings are in effect. These conditions could include dangerous driving conditions and very cold temperatures.
Sunday, snow will extend from the Cascades of Washington and Oregon through the northern Rockies. Sunday night, that snow should spread east into the northern Plains, including parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota.
Monday, snow could become heavy from parts of South Dakota into Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan while persisting in the Rockies.
Tuesday, heavy snow might persist in the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, and is expected to spread into parts of northern New England. A band of sleet and freezing rain is possible in parts of the southern Great Lakes, upstate New York and New England.
The best chance for heavy snow with this first storm will be in parts of the Rockies, and also in a roughly west-to-east band from South Dakota to Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan and northern Maine.
This includes the Twin Cities, where this longer-lived snowfall could lead to hazardous morning and afternoon commutes Monday and Tuesday.
Some accumulations of ice and/or sleet are also possible along the southern edge of the snowfall map below, generally from parts of Iowa, northern Illinois and Lower Michigan to upstate New York and northern New England.
This could lead to hazardous travel from later Monday into Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
Snow, Rain Outlook
(While it is too far out in time to specify exact forecast snowfall totals, areas in the purple and pink contours have the highest chance at heavy snowfall.)
(MORE: Severe, Flood Threats in the South)
Second Storm
As alluded to earlier, right on the heels of the early-week storm, a second winter storm is increasingly likely but may leave its snowy and icy imprint farther South. That's because Arctic cold air will be more expansive for this second storm.
By Wednesday, it will have plunged deep into Texas. And behind the first storm, some colder air will be dragged southward into at least parts of the East.
After wringing out some needed snow in the Desert Southwest and parts of California's high country, the wintry mess from this storm could begin as soon as Wednesday from parts of Kansas and Missouri into Oklahoma and northern Texas.
Thursday could see widespread snow and ice from northern Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas through the Ohio Valley, southern Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic states.
This mess could finish up in parts of the Northeast next Friday.
(MAPS: 7-Day U.S. Forecast Rain, Snow)
It's far too soon to narrow down any forecast totals for this storm, but significant snow and ice is possible from parts of the central and southern Plains into the Ohio Valley and Northeast.
The Northeast forecast is particularly tricky, dependent on the track of the second storm's low-pressure center and how stubborn the cold air remains in place and where.
Some of the same areas just hit by Winter Storm Miles this past week could see more accumulating snow or ice.
weather.com
True to form for the typically busy month of February, the weather pattern is setting up for an active week ahead, with impacts over much of the country.
First, the jet stream will take another sharp southward plunge into the West early next week. A surge of energy will swing east out of that jet stream plunge early next week, followed by a second, stronger disturbance later in the week.
As that's happening, a fresh blast of Arctic cold air will plunge south from Canada into the West, central U.S. and, eventually, parts of the East next week. Each low-pressure system will pull moisture into that cold air, producing snow and ice.
As is typical several days out, there are key details that remain unclear, particularly with the second system later next week, so check back to weather.com and The Weather Channel app in the coming days for important updates as the forecast comes into focus.
For now, let's lay out what we know and don't yet know, starting with the first storm.
First Storm: Early Week
A small disturbance riding the U.S./Canada border in the Plains ahead of the big storm system. That distubance, a quick-moving clipper system for North Dakota and Minnesota, is expected to cause gusty winds and some modest snowfall through Sunday. Areas of blizzard conditions are expected along the North Dakota/Minnesota border.
Winter weather alerts are in place ahead of this first winter storm from the Cascades of Washington and Oregon to the Midwest. Conditions are expected to be worst where winter storm watches and warnings are in effect. These conditions could include dangerous driving conditions and very cold temperatures.
Sunday, snow will extend from the Cascades of Washington and Oregon through the northern Rockies. Sunday night, that snow should spread east into the northern Plains, including parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota.
Monday, snow could become heavy from parts of South Dakota into Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan while persisting in the Rockies.
Tuesday, heavy snow might persist in the upper Midwest and western Great Lakes, and is expected to spread into parts of northern New England. A band of sleet and freezing rain is possible in parts of the southern Great Lakes, upstate New York and New England.
The best chance for heavy snow with this first storm will be in parts of the Rockies, and also in a roughly west-to-east band from South Dakota to Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan and northern Maine.
This includes the Twin Cities, where this longer-lived snowfall could lead to hazardous morning and afternoon commutes Monday and Tuesday.
Some accumulations of ice and/or sleet are also possible along the southern edge of the snowfall map below, generally from parts of Iowa, northern Illinois and Lower Michigan to upstate New York and northern New England.
This could lead to hazardous travel from later Monday into Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
Snow, Rain Outlook
(While it is too far out in time to specify exact forecast snowfall totals, areas in the purple and pink contours have the highest chance at heavy snowfall.)
(MORE: Severe, Flood Threats in the South)
Second Storm
As alluded to earlier, right on the heels of the early-week storm, a second winter storm is increasingly likely but may leave its snowy and icy imprint farther South. That's because Arctic cold air will be more expansive for this second storm.
By Wednesday, it will have plunged deep into Texas. And behind the first storm, some colder air will be dragged southward into at least parts of the East.
After wringing out some needed snow in the Desert Southwest and parts of California's high country, the wintry mess from this storm could begin as soon as Wednesday from parts of Kansas and Missouri into Oklahoma and northern Texas.
Thursday could see widespread snow and ice from northern Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas through the Ohio Valley, southern Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic states.
This mess could finish up in parts of the Northeast next Friday.
(MAPS: 7-Day U.S. Forecast Rain, Snow)
It's far too soon to narrow down any forecast totals for this storm, but significant snow and ice is possible from parts of the central and southern Plains into the Ohio Valley and Northeast.
The Northeast forecast is particularly tricky, dependent on the track of the second storm's low-pressure center and how stubborn the cold air remains in place and where.
Some of the same areas just hit by Winter Storm Miles this past week could see more accumulating snow or ice.
Two Presidents Week Winter Storms Will Blanket Plains, Midwest, Northeast With Snow and Ice | The Weather Channel
True to form for February, the winter storm parade continues. Here's the latest forecast. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
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