Brief bursts of winter ahead of warmup across the Midwest, Northeast
Back-to-back storms to bring snow and ice to start off March before springlike temperatures take hold across much of the East by late week.
You’ve likely heard the phrase “In like a lion, out like a lamb” about March since you were a kid, but is it actually true? Let’s break down the science and the history.
For many, March signifies a transition into spring, but AccuWeather meteorologists say two fast-moving storms will bring more winter weather to the Northeast at the start of the month, before a pattern change brings springlike weather to the region.
A weak storm moved across the Plains into the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic into Monday night, which brought a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet to the coasts of Delaware and southern New Jersey and farther north into western, central and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Another storm to bring more winter weather
A larger storm took shape on Tuesday and will continue to bring areas of snow, ice and rain to the Northeast into Tuesday night. This storm is tracking much farther north than the storm from Sunday to Monday and has some colder air to work with. Following areas of ice on Tuesday morning in portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the southern parts of New York and New England, some locations in upstate New York and central New England can pick up an inch or two of slushy snow and sleet.
Accompanying the storm, southerly winds will usher in warmer air northward, allowing for a transition to rain for many.
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The transition to rain and warmer air will allow more ice on some streams and rivers across the Northeast to break 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," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "Some unprotected areas along flood-prone streams and rivers could be at risk."
Pattern change to bring springlike temperatures
During the middle to late week, a pattern change will take shape across the United States. A notable dip in the jet stream will take hold across the West, ushering in chilly air. Meanwhile, a northward bulge in the jet stream will set up across the east, promoting a stretch of springlike warmth.
By Thursday, high temperatures in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia will top out as much as 10-20 degrees above the historical average for early March.
This pattern will also be accompanied by an active stretch of storms moving across the Plains into the Great Lakes. Some of the rain from each storm can make it into portions of the Northeast. How expansive the rain gets across the region will be dependent on the exact track of each storm. Individuals are urged to check AccuWeather often to stay informed on where the rain will fall.
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