Midwest faces 2 major winter storms in 4 days, including blizzard threat
Back-to-back snowstorms will blast the central United States in a matter of days, including the chance for over a foot of snow and blizzard conditions that could grind travel to a halt.
AccuWeather’s Tony Laubach reports from Lincoln, Nebraska. Much of the midwestern region of the U.S. is digging out of snow produced by two major winter storms in the past four days as of Jan. 9.
Millions of people in the Plains and Midwest will barely have time to catch their breath after a massive winter storm that affected the region through Tuesday night with heavy snow, drenching rain and high winds before an even stronger and colder storm blasts the region from Friday to Saturday. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that while the first storm will disrupt travel, the second storm could bring travel to a standstill and create dangerous conditions for those caught outdoors.
The first storm that tracked through heavily populated locations in the Midwest and interior Northeast through Tuesday night is shifting into Canada for Wednesday.
The atmosphere is making up for lost time in terms of wintry conditions and snow following a relatively mild and snowless start to the season in a large part of the central United States.
Snow of varying intensity with areas of blowing and drifting snow will slowly shift from northern and eastern Michigan into portions of southeastern Canada near and northwest of the storm track.
Hundreds of miles of Interstates 29, 35, 40, 55, 70, 80, 90 and 94 over the Plains and Upper Midwest states and Interstates 79, 80, 81, 86, 87, 89, 90 and 91 in the Northeast may experience lingering snowy and/or icy conditions from the wintry side of the storm.
On the southeastern side of the storm, rain will not only quickly dissolve the snow and ice that fell through Tuesday but will likely wash away all of the snow that fell from the storm this past weekend.
While urban and small stream flooding is inevitable, rapid surges on many of the major rivers east of the Mississippi are anticipated, with flooding of unprotected areas from the middle to late parts of the week to follow the initial flash flooding aspect of the storm.
Many roads may immediately become blocked by rushing water during flash flooding and a few days later as waters rise along the major rivers.
Severe thunderstorms erupted and tornadoes were spawned across the Southeast from Monday night to Tuesday from the massive storm. A new round of severe weather is likely to end the week.
2nd storm could shut down travel over a broad area
Highway departments and property owners in portions of the Plains and Midwest may want to create more space for additional snow, as an even nastier blast from winter is looming from Thursday night to Saturday.
The second storm of the week is likely to become stronger and much colder than the first storm, where a more widespread zone of blizzard conditions develops with plummeting temperatures that can cause wet and slushy areas to freeze. The second storm may also track a couple of hundred miles farther to the east, which would put more areas in the Midwest at risk for more wintry aspects of the storm. This more eastward track could throw heavy snow into St. Louis, Detroit and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Where airlines may get through the first storm with several hundred flight cancellations with ripple effects nationwide, the second storm could have many more flight cancellations and widespread implications for the weekend as airlines may still be in recovery mode following a significant amount of aircraft and crew displacement from the first storm.
It is possible that parts of the Plains and Midwest may have 1-2 feet of snow on the ground in the wake of the second storm. Cities that may be hit hard by both storms include Kansas City, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Davenport, Iowa.
Blowing and drifting snow will be much more substantial and widespread during and following the second storm and could make the complete removal of snow nearly impossible. Some roads may become clogged with large drifts and stranded vehicles. Those who attempt to drive even short distances during the furious winter storm may be at risk of becoming stranded.
This is the type of storm that can put those stuck outdoors at risk for hypothermia and frostbite as peak winds during the upcoming blizzard may range between 40 and 60 mph, which will push AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures well below zero Fahrenheit.
Where the power remains out in the wake of both major winter storms, people may be shivering as temperatures plummet in the wake of the storms with the coldest air of the winter so far on its way. Actual temperatures may struggle to climb past the single digits during the day and dip below zero at night in vast portions of the central and Plains and Upper Midwest this weekend as Arctic air blasts in.
While both storms will bring the risk of lakeshore flooding, it is behind the second storm this weekend, when overwash will likely freeze and add to the travel difficulties. The amount of Great Lakes ice will increase substantially in the wake of the storm this weekend.
The midmonth push of Arctic air could set the stage for a Deep South and mid-Atlantic snowstorm early next week.
AccuWeather will provide updates on both storms as well as the scope and extent of the Arctic air that follows on its various media outlets, including the AccuWeather App, website, Network and affiliated radio, TV and newspapers.
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