Another round of winter storms sweeps the Midwest and Northeast
Multiple storms will bring rounds of snow, ice and rain from the Midwest to the Northeast as Arctic air briefly surges south, raising risks of slick travel, ice jams and urban flooding into midweek.
AccuWeather’s Anna Azallion is back to tell you whether these myths about winter weather are true or false.
Winter will make yet another comeback from the Midwest to the Northeast. Multiple storms bringing rounds of snow, ice and rain will impact about 120 million people through the middle of the week.
Arctic air on the move
Arctic air is surging across Canada and is forecast to sweep southeast into the Northeast on Sunday.
How far south the Arctic front pushes will determine how far north snow and mixed precipitation extend with the next storm.
Snow, ice streak east from Sunday to Monday
Snow, ice and rain will spread from the central portions of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys on Sunday to parts of the Atlantic Seaboard on Monday.
The Arctic air will help create a larger zone of snow and ice.
However, the storm's weak nature is likely to prevent significant snow accumulations. Midwest cities most likely to get enough snow to coat roads and cause slippery travel include Springfield, Illinois, and Columbia, Missouri. Another small bubble of snow is likely for the mountains in central West Virginia.
In areas east of the mountains in southeastern Maryland and much of Virginia, precipitation will be a mix of snow, ice and rain. In much of this zone, snow accumulations up to a coating are possible, mainly on non-paved surfaces.
Storm from Tuesday to Wednesday to be larger and warmer
A larger storm will affect parts of the Midwest and the Northeast from Tuesday to Wednesday, overlapping with lingering snow, ice and rain from Monday’s system in parts of the Northeast.
This next storm will spread snow and a wintry mix farther north, including parts of the Great Lakes and the Northeast on Tuesday.
"A key to the storm from Tuesday to Wednesday will be the Arctic high-pressure area, which will be moving off the mid-Atlantic coast, rather than holding its ground," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz said. "Southerly breezes will allow a swift warmup so that snow and ice quickly transition to rain in most areas over the mid-Atlantic and New England from Tuesday to Wednesday."
Since there is still a significant amount of ice on some streams and rivers, the higher temperatures and rain will tend to break it up. Where the ice jams up, there is a risk of rapid rises in water levels above the jams and then below where the jams break. Some unprotected areas along flood-prone streams and rivers could be at risk.
Ice jammed the Winooski River and caused it to flood downtown Montpelier, Vt., in March 1992. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
With a massive amount of snow still on the ground, including large piles in urban areas from Philadelphia to New York City, Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, urban flooding is likely from Tuesday to Wednesday as rain combines with melting snow. Clearing storm drains ahead of the storm may help reduce the risk of deep flooding in city streets.
Another problem that may impact ground and air travel in parts of the Midwest and Northeast with the upcoming storms will be areas of fog. Anytime warmer, moist air flows over cold ground or snow cover, fog may form and could become locally dense.
The first official day of spring is about three weeks away on March 20 at 10:46 a.m. Eastern Time.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Report a Typo
