Dangerous cold to ring in 2019 in north-central US, Rockies after snow ends 2018
A major winter storm blasted the High Plains with blizzard-like conditions. Drivers in Mitchell, South Dakota battled harsh winds and blinding snow, making for difficult driving conditions on the interstate.
Another round of snow and treacherous travel is in store for the north-central United States and the Rockies in the final days of 2018 before the coldest air so far this winter plunges in.
In the wake of the snowstorms that ended Christmas week, a new storm will drop into the Northwest with rain, interior snow and gusty winds this weekend.
A surge of milder air ahead of the storm this weekend may give many from the Front Range of the Rockies to the Plains a false sense of hope for comfortable conditions to ring in the new year.
However, the passage of the storm will open the door for the coldest air so far this winter to dash those hopes.
Along the leading edge of the impending Arctic blast, snow will sweep southward across the Rocky Mountains into Monday.
A fresh 6-12 inches of snow is anticipated for most of the higher terrain. Enough snow to create slippery travel conditions can also fall in Billings, Montana; Casper and Cheyenne, Wyoming; Salt Lake City; and Denver.
On New Year’s Day, it may be a near repeat of snow for the areas that were hit with last Friday’s snowstorm around New Mexico, Albuquerque included.
Wind-blown snow can also streak eastward across the North Central states into Monday night.
Residents and holiday visitors from Rapid City, South Dakota, and Bismarck, North Dakota, to Minneapolis, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Michigan, can be faced with another period of disruptions to travel and holiday plans.
"In addition to the snow moving in from the west, a separate zone of snow can disrupt New Year's celebrations from portions of eastern Iowa to south-central Wisconsin and northern Michigan on Monday afternoon and night," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
"Several inches of snow can accumulate along this corridor, leading to treacherous travel and ruined firework displays in some communities," she added.
The snow will develop along the northwestern side of the storm poised to drench the Southern states early this week.
In the wake of the snow, winter's onslaught will continue across the Rockies and North Central states as the bitter cold takes hold.
"Arctic air moving into Montana and the rest of the northern Rockies will bring the coldest air of the winter season thus far, right in time for the end of 2018," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.
"Those who are outside Monday night for New Year's Eve in places such as Great Falls or Billings, Montana, will have to brave single-digit temperatures with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures between minus 5 and 15 F," he added.
Even more dangerous conditions await revelers who venture out across the northern Plains.
RealFeel® Temperatures can plummet to around minus 30 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and minus 40 in Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota, on Monday evening.
In such conditions, frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes.
While temperatures may rebound slightly across the northern Rockies to start the new year, subzero highs are anticipated to grip most of the eastern Dakotas and Minnesota on Tuesday.
Residents may remember how the first day of 2018 had similar bitterly low high temperatures.
Gusty winds from Monday and Monday night should lessen for Tuesday, preventing RealFeel® Temperatures from being dramatically lower than actual temperatures.
Regardless, residents and revelers should be sure to properly bundle up before spending any time outdoors early this week. Even though roads may be cleared of snow, be sure to have a winter survival kit in your vehicle in case any incident leaves you stranded until help arrives.
Ensure that animals have proper shelter and warmth.
The harshest conditions to start 2019 are anticipated over the northern Plains, but subfreezing high temperatures will have those in Kansas City, Missouri, Oklahoma City and Lubbock, Texas, shivering on Tuesday.
"The good news is that this Arctic blast will be short-lived," Pydynowski said. "Highs will return to the 40s in Montana, including Great Falls and Billings, and the northern High Plains later this week."
Temperatures should climb back to near or above freezing in Fargo and Minneapolis at this time.
How cold do you think it’ll get? Make your prediction and play Forecaster Challenge.
