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    Coastal Flood Statement * LOCATIONS...ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE BAYS ...

    Snow for Chicago to Detroit?

    By By Alex Sosnowski, expert senior meteorologist.
    December 21, 2011, 1:35:16 AM EST

    The storm that clobbers areas from Amarillo to Kansas City with snow during the first part of the week will have some issues doing the same over the Midwest.

    The storm will reach a peak over the southern Plains and the Southwest. As a result, the greatest amount of snow is likely to fall in over areas well to the southwest of Chicago and Detroit with the storm.

    Warmer air will be present over the Midwest and will create difficulties for maintaining a sizable area of snow or perhaps snow altogether.

    The swath from eastern Missouri to the southern and eastern Great Lakes will likely wind up in a swath of mostly rain with the storm or will be too far on the northern edge of the moisture to get much snow.

    Odds favor nothing more than a small slushy accumulation to perhaps a couple of inches on grassy areas in the zone from Chicago to Detroit Tuesday/Tuesday night. It certainly seems this would not be the type of snow that will last until Christmas morning.

    If snow does fall for a few hours in this area with the storm, much of it may melt on the major roads.

    Farther south, enough rain could fall on the saturated ground over the Ohio and Tennessee valleys to bring flash, urban and small stream flooding. Modest new rises on lesser rivers are also possible.

    Even in areas of the southern and central Plains that pick up 6 inches of snow from the storm, a white Christmas is doubtful. Meteorologist Meghan Evans has the details on travel weather for next week across the nation.

    According to Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, "Rising temperatures in the wake of the storm during the middle and latter part of next week would translate to that snow melting away before Christmas."

    Sneak Attack This Weekend

    In the meantime, this weekend, an Alberta clipper type storm dropping in across the Great Lakes seems to have a chance at putting down a small accumulation.


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    The clipper has the potential to bring a coating of snow or perhaps a bit more from Minneapolis to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo via snow showers.

    A few communities could be hit by a locally heavy snow shower that quickly coats roads.

    Surfaces that are wet during the late-day hours Saturday could turn icy as temperatures fall in the evening.

    Incidentally, the cold push following the clipper could set the stage for substantial snow with next week's storm in northern New England and adjacent Canada.

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