Much Colder Temperatures, Rain, Snow, and Wind in the Forecast for Central U.S.

Posted: November 26, 2022 8:22 am

A storm is starting to brew with the central U.S. in its sights beginning next week. This intense weather maker is setting up to deliver a host of impacts ranging from thunderstorms to snow. Here is what you need to know as you look ahead to next week.

Large Swath of Nation’s Heartland in Line for Messy Weather

Millions of Americans will likely be impacted by this storm as it pushes through the heart of the nation beginning Tuesday and lasting through at least Thursday. The effects of this storm system will stretch from the Gulf Coast up through the Great Lakes.

The storm will get its start as warm air plump with moisture begins to move to the north from the Gulf of Mexico to start the work week. This movement is forecast to trigger thunderstorms beginning Tuesday afternoon. The storms will pack quite the punch, creating gusty winds and the threat of hail, isolated tornadoes, and flash flooding. The most likely area of impact includes eastern Texas into western Louisiana and northward to the southeastern corner of Missouri and western Kentucky.

Forecasters are not yet certain how quickly this system will move. There is a good chance that parts of eastern Louisiana will still be experiencing the stormy conditions by Wednesday as the system moves to the east and stretches across the Gulf Coast into the Florida Panhandle.

Areas as far north as Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana may be under the gun for storms and strong winds on Wednesday. Cities in this potential impact zone include Birmingham, Nashville, and Columbus.

Gusty Winds Could Present Problems

The winds will likely be a major weather concern on Wednesday for the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes. A large area of land sweeping through Kentucky and up through Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania may see wind gusts up to 50 mph by the middle of the week. Winds of this speed could lead to power outages and lakeshore flooding. Travelers should also be on the lookout for potential flight delays.

The gusty winds will be a possibility on both sides of the storm system. Cold air coming in behind the system could also bring in the chance of snow. Accumulation in the amounts of 3 – 6 inches are looking like a good possibility in a band of land stretching from central Iowa into northern Michigan. The most likely time frame for this snowfall would be Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Much Colder Temperatures a Certainty

It is still too early to determine with certainty what areas may pick up measurable snow. What forecasters are certain about is that cold temperatures will be the story for much of the central U.S. by the middle of the work week. The mercury is forecast to plummet by 20 – 30 degrees in many major metropolitan areas, including Dallas, Wichita, St. Louis, and Chicago.

For instance, the temperature is predicted to drop from a high of about 60 degrees on Tuesday in Kansas City to a top reading of 35 degrees on Wednesday. The strong northerly winds coming in behind the cold front will bring the real feel readings down even further.

Chicago will also be dealing with a dramatic weather change. The Windy City will see the mercury tumble from highs in the 50s on Tuesday to readings that barely crack the freezing mark the following day. Cold rain and maybe a few snowflakes may accompany the shift in the temperatures. Like Kansas City, the stiff winds will make it feel significantly colder.

Any precipitation on sidewalks and roads could freeze quickly as the wind starts whipping up throughout the central and northern Plains. The freeze will migrate into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley by Wednesday and Thursday. There is also the chance of a lake-effect snow event across northern Michigan and into the central Appalachians as a result of the cold air blowing over the Great Lakes.

Be sure to keep abreast of the changing weather conditions heading into next week for the latest forecast in your area. While not all of the details are in focus yet, it is clear that this multi-faceted storm will have far-reaching impacts.

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