Strengthening Triple-Threat March Megastorm to unleash powerful winds, blizzard conditions
March Megastorm to impact nearly 200 million people with blizzard conditions in the Midwest and strong winds in much of the central and eastern United States
Storm Chaser Aaron Jayjack was in Albert Lea, Minnesota, in the morning of March 16 where multiple vehicles slid off Interstates 35 and 90 in the aftermath of a winter storm.
A rapidly strengthening storm will lift across the Great Lakes region Monday night, bringing high winds to over two dozen states and blizzard conditions to the Midwest, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. This will be the last stop for the storm in the United States.
The potent storm produced three significant weather threats: powerful winds, blizzard conditions and widespread severe thunderstorms. At one point on Monday, more than 500,000 utility customers were without power, just days after a powerful windstorm swept from the Rockies to the Northeast.
Heavy snow, blizzard conditions underway
Snow will continue to spread across the Midwest into Monday night as the storm tracks towards the Great Lakes. Some of the snow will come down fast with snowfall rates up to 3-4 inches per hour, especially across parts of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
A large swath of 6-12 inches has unfolded from eastern portions of Minnesota into northern Michigan. Snow totaling higher amounts of up to 3 feet can accumulate from portions of north-central Wisconsin into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 60 inches.
"Many locations across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan still have 20-50 inches of snow on the ground, prior to the arrival of the current storm," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. "After the megastorm moves through, some locales may be able to hold onto snowpack well into the month of April, possibly into May."
GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
•Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
The combination of snow and strong winds will promote blizzard conditions from eastern portions of Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Cities like Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Michigan, could have significant travel disruptions Monday with near-zero visibility as strong winds and heavy snow persist.
Intense winds spread expand into New England Monday night
As the storm gains strength Monday, powerful wind gusts will spread across the central and eastern U.S. Winds in portions of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys to the interior Northeast may topple trees, down power lines, trigger rollovers of high-profile vehicles and cause property damage.
From the Midwest to much of the East Coast, wind gusts frequenting 40-60 mph can occur through Monday night. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ is 80 mph.
Many flights may be impacted at many of the major hubs, including Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte. Individuals traveling to and from these hubs, as well as any other airports in the region, should be prepared for potential delays or even cancellations.
Strong wind gusts will also be accompanied by low humidity and dry vegetation across portions of eastern New Mexico and Texas Monday and Tuesday, raising the risk for fire start or spread. The wind can also pick up dust, which can cause a reduction in visibility.
Cold to follow storm
Arctic air has swept in behind the storm over much of the Midwest and will soon do so over much of the East.
“As the colder air sweeps into the Appalachians from Tennessee and North Carolina to Pennsylvania and New York, the rain will change to a period of snow,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
“Where the snow falls as a heavy rain near or after sunset Monday night, a quick few inches of snow can pile up over the higher terrain and create slippery travel, especially from parts of West Virginia to western, central and northern New York state. Road conditions can deteriorate quickly," Sosnowski said.
Many areas can expect some of the lowest temperatures in weeks into Thursday.
Daytime highs in Philadelphia and New York City Tuesday and Wednesday will top out in the lower 40s, which is around 10 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average for mid-March.
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
