Mid-March storm may threaten significant travel impacts in eastern US
The same weather pattern responsible for the early March bomb cyclone and an upcoming nor'easter on Wednesday and Thursday will give birth to a new storm threat just prior to the middle of March.
The potential for yet another major storm may not be what people in the Northeast want to hear or read about, but there is that risk later this weekend into early the following week.
While a great deal may happen with the storm this far out, there is the potential for significant impacts from rain, snow and wind in the eastern part of the nation centered around Sunday, March 11, and Monday, March 12.
Just enough of an atmospheric road block will remain in place to allow yet another storm the opportunity to slow its forward speed and strengthen upon reaching the Atlantic coast later this coming weekend.
The storm is likely to bring locally drenching rain to the South Central and Southeastern states beginning on Saturday and lasting into Sunday.
Locally gusty thunderstorms are also possible with the storm in the Deep South.
Depending on how quickly the storm strengthens, it may turn northward and hug the coast enough to bring flooding rain, travel-snarling snow, strong winds and a round of coastal flooding to the mid-Atlantic and New England.
At the very least, there appears to be enough rain, snow, poor visibility and wind in store to have a negative effect on airlines, shipping and commerce in general in the Southern and Northeastern states.
This potential storm, like others have done, is poised to occur at a time when many are taking to the highways and heading to airports to begin or end spring break vacations.
Even if the storm fails to develop to its full potential, which is a major nor'easter, it may cause further interruptions in repair and restoration operations following the early March storm.
Beyond the storm early next week, the weather pattern may evolve enough to end the volatile winter storms along the Atlantic Seaboard.
However, new problems may arise.
"We have to watch for a much warmer storm past the middle of the month which could combine with melting snow to raise the risk of stream and river flooding in the Northeast," according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
A storm track progressively farther to the west could spell more trouble for people in the Central states and may also bring drenching rain and heavy snow in the West.
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