Clipper storms, cold shots to trigger snow showers in Midwest, Northeast
More cold air is heading to the Midwest and Northeast into next week. Although not as extreme as mid-January, the cold waves will cause some travel trouble.
AccuWeather expert Joe Lundberg explains what a snow squall is and how it differs from a typical snowstorm.
Even though the coldest air of the winter has come and gone, there will be more rounds of frigid air that sweep from the Canadian Prairies to the central and eastern United States through the coming week, along with some wintry trouble that will accompany the cold air.
"Reinforcing bursts of cold air will sweep across the northeastern tier of the country from this weekend through the middle of this week," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Reneé Duff said.
Cold air from central Canada is on the way
There will be some significant differences in the new pattern versus that of recent days.
"Instead of the cold waves resulting in temperature departures of 15-30 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average, the harshest of the cold waves in the this week or so will likely bring temperatures no worse than 8 degrees below the late-January to early-February average," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said, "This will be the more typical middle-of-the-winter cold."
Brief warmups ahead of each cold wave can also raise temperatures several degrees above the historical average.
For example, in Chicago, instead of plunging below zero, the coldest nights will bring temperatures dipping into the 10s, which is some 20 degrees higher than the depths of the Siberian air from several days ago. In New York City, the coldest nights into the upcoming week will bring lows within a few degrees of 20 instead of around the 10-degree mark.
One area where the magnitude of the cold may approach that of this past week will be northern New England, as the core of the Siberian air slid by to the south of the region. The pattern into the upcoming week can result in temperatures close to 8 degrees below the historical average.
Flurries and dangerous snow squalls to sweep through
The cold shots will be associated with fronts and storms from northwestern Canada. Because of their speedy nature and the approximate Canadian province where they started from or passed through, these storms are often referred to as Alberta clippers.
"Snow showers and gusty winds will accompany each wave of cold air, which can result in reduced visibility for motorists and areas of slippery travel," Duff said.
Most snow showers are relatively harmless, typically barely dusting the ground. However, something a bit heavier can also occur in the coming days.
"The pattern will be conducive for snow squalls, which pose a significant risk to motorists," Duff said.
In the heaviest snow squalls, visibility on highways can suddenly drop to near zero, and there can be rapid snow accumulation.
"Snow squalls are likely to be most prevalent across the Great Lakes region and Northeast into Sunday and then again late Monday into Tuesday," Duff added.
The same period from Monday to Tuesday is likely to be quite windy from the Great Lakes to the Northeast.
Strong winds can cause sheets of ice to break loose and plow onto the shoreline of the Great Lakes.
Because of the threat of snow squalls, motorists in the Midwest and Northeast should monitor the weather and download the free AccuWeather app to be alerted when snow squall warnings are issued.
As the snow showers pass through the region's airport hubs, delays due to slippery runways and aircraft deicing operations are possible.
Later this week, the pattern will begin to change to one that gives millions in the East a break from the harsh cold while chillier, wetter and stormier conditions set up for part of the West.
This does not mean, however, that storms with rain, snow and a wintry mix will totally avoid the East.
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