Quick-hitting storm to spread snow across the Plains and Front Range at midweek
By
Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Feb 18, 2020 10:18 AM EDT
This driver had to dodge several vehicles during her early morning commute in Missoula, Montana, on Feb. 17.
Amid a clash between air masses across the Plains and Front Range, a quick-hitting round of snow will continue to disrupt travel in the country's midsection.
Cold Canadian air has spread southward through the Plains and was crashing into a warmer, moisture-laden atmosphere in place. This cold air mass was forcing the warmer air to rise, causing clouds to form and snow to develop across the region.
Into Wednesday night, travel may be disrupted across portions of Interstate 80 in Nebraska as a combination of snow and a brisk, northerly wind likely result in reduced visibility and snow-covered roads for motorists.
Many cities across central Nebraska, including North Platte, may have enough snow to warrant breaking out the shovels.
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As the cold air continues to expand southward into Wednesday night, the area of snow will also track southward. Goodland, Kansas, and many other towns along the Interstate-70 corridor in western Kansas and Colorado can expect snow to fall during the overnight hours.
Snow may also create travel hazards and lead to school delays in the Colorado Springs metro area by Thursday morning.
Although it is not expected to be a blockbuster storm by any means along the Front Range, whatever snow does fall will add on to the already above-average, season-to-date snowfall.
The wintry weather should continue to track southward into the day on Thursday. The panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, as well as southern Kansas, may get a quick coating to an inch or two before the snow comes to an end.
Flakes may fly for a brief time in Tulsa and Oklahoma City Thursday, but with temperatures expected to climb into the upper 30s and lower 40s, roadways will likely remain wet, minimizing traffic hazards.
As high pressure continues to push southward through the day on Thursday, snow will taper off through the afternoon hours across the Plains.
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing throughout Kansas and much of Oklahoma Thursday night, so any wet spots or ponding that occurs on roadways will freeze. A few localized slick spots will be possible, but likely limited to untreated surfaces or on bridges and overpasses.
A thin corridor of wintry weather may continue to streak eastward into portions of the mid-South and Carolinas by Thursday night, but as for the Plains, dry weather is expected to stick around into the first half of the weekend.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Winter Weather
Quick-hitting storm to spread snow across the Plains and Front Range at midweek
By Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather Meteorologist
Published Feb 18, 2020 10:18 AM EDT
This driver had to dodge several vehicles during her early morning commute in Missoula, Montana, on Feb. 17.
Amid a clash between air masses across the Plains and Front Range, a quick-hitting round of snow will continue to disrupt travel in the country's midsection.
Cold Canadian air has spread southward through the Plains and was crashing into a warmer, moisture-laden atmosphere in place. This cold air mass was forcing the warmer air to rise, causing clouds to form and snow to develop across the region.
Into Wednesday night, travel may be disrupted across portions of Interstate 80 in Nebraska as a combination of snow and a brisk, northerly wind likely result in reduced visibility and snow-covered roads for motorists.
Many cities across central Nebraska, including North Platte, may have enough snow to warrant breaking out the shovels.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
As the cold air continues to expand southward into Wednesday night, the area of snow will also track southward. Goodland, Kansas, and many other towns along the Interstate-70 corridor in western Kansas and Colorado can expect snow to fall during the overnight hours.
Snow may also create travel hazards and lead to school delays in the Colorado Springs metro area by Thursday morning.
Although it is not expected to be a blockbuster storm by any means along the Front Range, whatever snow does fall will add on to the already above-average, season-to-date snowfall.
The wintry weather should continue to track southward into the day on Thursday. The panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, as well as southern Kansas, may get a quick coating to an inch or two before the snow comes to an end.
Flakes may fly for a brief time in Tulsa and Oklahoma City Thursday, but with temperatures expected to climb into the upper 30s and lower 40s, roadways will likely remain wet, minimizing traffic hazards.
As high pressure continues to push southward through the day on Thursday, snow will taper off through the afternoon hours across the Plains.
Related:
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing throughout Kansas and much of Oklahoma Thursday night, so any wet spots or ponding that occurs on roadways will freeze. A few localized slick spots will be possible, but likely limited to untreated surfaces or on bridges and overpasses.
A thin corridor of wintry weather may continue to streak eastward into portions of the mid-South and Carolinas by Thursday night, but as for the Plains, dry weather is expected to stick around into the first half of the weekend.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo