AccuWeather meteorologists put central US on alert for far-reaching storm
AccuWeather forecasters say an active weather pattern will bring another major storm to the country’s midsection. Severe weather, flooding and more snow will all be possible.
March continues to come in like a lion. An active weather pattern is expected to bring yet another storm to the country's midsection, including the risk for severe weather, flooding and more snow.
The Plains have been the target of blockbuster weather in recent weeks. Back-to-back severe weather outbreaks blossomed in the southern Plains, producing deadly tornadoes and life-threatening winds. Meanwhile in late February, an ice storm unfolded across parts of Iowa and Wisconsin and more than a foot of snow fell in parts of Minnesota. Early this week, yet another round of snow is underway in these areas.
Now, AccuWeather forecasters are watching for a potent, late-week storm that could bring both wintry and severe hazards to the center of the country.
"There is the potential for some states in the northern Plains to be hit with two snowstorms within a week," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer.
According to Bauer, the wintry weather likely to start late Wednesday in the Rockies, and expanding into the Upper Midwest through Friday.
With several days of snow in the offing, it's not out of the question that some communities could see more than a foot of snow. The exact locations likely to see the most snow will be dependent on the track the storm takes across the Plains and if it's able to strengthen as it slowly progresses eastward.
Cities from Casper, Wyoming, and Denver to Madison, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis should be on alert for at least several inches of accumulating snow.
The area around Chicago and Detroit were being watched closely by AccuWeather meteorologists for another opportunity for accumulating snow this week.
"In both Chicago and Detroit, if little or no sleet and rain mixes in, there is the potential for a heavy accumulation of snow from Thursday night to Friday evening," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "It may come down to a couple of degrees in temperature a few thousand feet above the ground as to whether the storm brings a plowable storm or a couple of inches of slush that mostly melts off on its own."
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Warmer conditions on the southern side of the storm will keep states from Texas to Tennessee from experiencing snow. However, the storm could still bring impactful weather.
"Repeated rounds of rain from mid- to late week could bring several inches of rain, especially from the Texas-Oklahoma border to Tennessee and Kentucky," said Bauer.
Widespread rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are possible in this zone, but it's not out of the question that a few isolated locations could report more like 3 or 4 inches by Friday.
In the past week, this area has been the target of a lot of rain. Following a very wet February, Little Rock, Arkansas, reported around 3 inches in just five days. Memphis, Tennesse reported over 4 inches in just a week's time. For Paducah, Kentucky, 4.5 inches of rainfall was recorded in just two days, almost the average rainfall amount for the entire month of March.
These locations, given recent rains, will be more susceptible to flooding issues, especially in low-lying areas. Many Mississippi River tributaries are already reporting minor flooding.
Farther to the southwest, an influx of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico will bring the potential for thunderstorms for several days. Any thunderstorm could have the potential to turn severe, bringing the risk of heavier downpours as well as localized gusty winds.
AccuWeather meteorologists continue to monitor the potential for this storm to also impact the East coast, either with wintry or severe weather. Ultimately, these impacts will be dependent on the storm's track and strength going into the weekend.
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