Another Wintry Blast and Deep Freeze to Impact Millions from the Rockies to the East Coast

Originally published by AccuWeather.

AccuWeather expert meteorologists are tracking the threat of multiple storms with snow, ice and bitterly cold air that could impact millions of people from the Midwest to the East Coast.

“In areas that see windy conditions, like parts of the Midwest this weekend, AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures can reach -40 to -50 degrees. It will feel brutally cold, and anyone adventuring outside can get frostbite on exposed skin in a matter of minutes,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

First round of snow

The extended stretch of wintry weather will start with a clipper-style storm that is expected to bring accumulating snow from the Midwest to the Great Lakes and central Appalachians from Wednesday night through Thursday night. A clipper storm is a fastmoving storm that generally comes southeastward from Alberta, Canada, through the Plains and to the mid-Atlantic or Northeast. Since it is coming from there, it does not generally have a lot of moisture associated with it, so a band of 1-3 inches of snow is common near and north of the path, and in some cases, a narrow band of 3-6 inches is possible north of the track, often due to how fluffy the snow is.


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AccuWeather is forecasting 1-3 inches of snow across parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and western New York. Pockets of 3-6 inches of lake-enhanced snowfall is possible in areas east of the Great Lakes and in the mountains, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 12 inches.

Snow in the Rockies

A separate winter storm is forecast to bring accumulating snowfall from the higher terrain in Montana through Colorado starting Friday. AccuWeather expert meteorologists are forecasting 3-6 inches of snowfall across parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and New Mexico.

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A foot or more of snow is expected in the mountains west of Denver, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 24 inches.

Temperatures to plummet

Temperatures will drop dramatically as a sharp dip in the jet stream transports frigid conditions southward from far northern Canada starting Friday. In many locations from the Dakotas to Colorado and northwestern Kansas, temperatures will drop between 30 and 40 degrees by the start of the weekend.

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Overnight temperatures during this time will be below zero for many locations. The sharply lower temperatures paired with accumulating snowfall will make for harsh cleanup conditions for those trying to shovel driveways and sidewalks.

AccuWeather expert meteorologists say arctic air will continue to press in from Sunday through the middle of next week and will expand toward the Atlantic coast. This deep freeze could bring the coldest air of the winter so far to millions, as Siberian air lunges eastward next week.

“The cold outbreak will occur right smack in the middle of what is historically the coldest part of the winter,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Larson said.

The cold will be intense enough to limit or prevent the melting of snow, so areas of ice and packed snow may linger for days from the Midwest to the coastal Northeast, as well as the higher terrain over the interior Southeast.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures are expected to dip 10-20 degrees below the historical average for millions across much of the eastern and central U.S. next week.

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As the frigid air passes over open waters, ice will increase on rivers, ponds and lakes. However, the ice buildup may be gradual, so the ice could be dangerously thin for a time.

“The frigid air may set the stage for significant ice jams in the weeks ahead with some rebound in temperatures and thaws likely for February,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham warned. “The level and extensiveness of the frigid air may be tough to match the rest of the winter.”

There may be a couple of days when temperatures reach no higher than 40 degrees with nighttime lows in the 20s to near 30 in Houston, Texas. At this level, which is 20-25 degrees below the historical average, pipes in exposed, poorly insulated or unheated areas could be at risk of freezing and bursting.

The demand for heating is expected to surge across much of the eastern and central U.S. next week, likely leading to a surge in heating and energy costs.

“Across the southern U.S., where heating is largely done with electricity, there can be strain on the energy system and an increase in the cost of energy. If there does happen to be any disruptions to power, and people cannot heat their houses, it can quickly become dangerously cold,” Douty said. “Pipes could freeze and burst. Even if the power does not fail, frozen pipes can become a concern in the southern Gulf Coast States as temperatures drop well below freezing at night.”

AccuWeather long-range experts say a warming trend is expected by the end of January into early February.

More winter storms on tap

AccuWeather expert meteorologists say there are additional rounds of wintry weather in the forecast that could impact travel for millions of people starting Friday.

A wintry mix is possible along Interstate 70 in the Midwest, with intermittent snow farther north near the Great Lakes from Friday night to Saturday. Impacts will spread from the central Appalachians to northern New England from Saturday to Saturday night. A coating to 2 inches of snow is expected for most.

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There may be spotty ice in parts of the Appalachians and Piedmont areas from Friday night to Saturday due to cold ground temperatures.

Rain will soak much of the Southeast from Friday night to Saturday evening on the southern side of this storm. Thunderstorms could develop in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

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As colder air seeps in on the back side of that first storm, a freeze-up could occur Saturday night in portions of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys to the central Appalachians and perhaps coastal areas of the Northeast Saturday night.

Slippery travel conditions to end the weekend

Enough cold air will be in place for snow or a wintry mix from the coastal Northeast to the interior Southeast as the next storm arrives Sunday.

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If the storm gains a bit of strength, AccuWeather expert meteorologists say it could bring moisture farther west into the frigid air, resulting in a higher chance of snow in parts of the Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley and the Appalachians. If the storm is weaker, the snow may not be as extensive and become spottier.

In the Piedmont areas of the Southeast to coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic, enough moisture may be present to bring some accumulating snow and ice from Sunday to Sunday night. Slippery and hazardous travel conditions are likely. The wintry travel impacts would reach New England Sunday night to Monday.

“At this time, most likely snow will have departed Washington, D.C., in time for the presidential inauguration on Monday, but there may be slippery conditions for those traveling to the nation’s capital from Sunday to early Monday morning,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

AccuWeather is forecasting temperatures in the 20s during the inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday, with gusty winds and AccuWeather RealFeel® high temperatures in the teens. This is expected to be the coldest inauguration since 2009 and possibly the coldest inauguration since 1985.

Tracking the potential of a southern winter storm

AccuWeather expert meteorologists are closely monitoring the potential of a winter storm that could bring snow and ice to some parts of the Gulf Coast states and Southeast early next week.

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The track and intensity of that storm will determine if heavy snow falls on parts of the Southern states and if some of that snow is able to reach into the mid-Atlantic by the middle of next week. The storm could bring snow or ice impacts to areas that typically don’t get wintry precipitation.

There is a chance that this system could head up the East Coast and strengthen as a major winter storm during the middle to latter part of next week. AccuWeather expert meteorologists will provide updates on the storm potential throughout the week.