What You Need to Know About Next Week’s Massive Storm System

Posted: December 10, 2022 3:00 am

Winter is really going to get moving next week as a monster storm system will impact a large part of the central and eastern U.S, bringing widespread thunderstorms, heavy snow, strong winds, and more. Are you in the target zone? Read on for all of the details.

Millions of Americans in Store for Severe Weather Next Week

While the month of December started mostly quiet for much of the U.S., that is all about to change in the coming days. A massive storm system is gearing up to bring a number of adverse weather threats to millions of Americans, particularly those located in the central part of the country.

The storm got its start in the Pacific Ocean earlier this week before moving into the western U.S. to close out the work week and kick off the weekend. This system is forecast to continue chugging to the east as the jet stream conditions favor its intensification over the weekend. This will result in a host of weather impacts ranging from snow in the Rockies and into the interior Northeast and rain for the south-central U.S. and through many Atlantic coastal areas.

The Pacific coastline will be the first to experience the wrath of this storm this weekend with rain along the coastal areas and heavy snow in the higher terrains, particularly in the Sierra Nevada. For instance, Mammoth Lakes, California is forecast to see up to 3 feet of new snow.

Severe Storms and Tornadoes in the Forecast

The storm will then move into the Rockies where it may lose a bit of steam before it reorganizes again over the Great Plains by the beginning of next week. This increased energy will meet with an influx of warm and moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. This merger will ignite thunderstorms across a large area of the south-central U.S. to start the work week.

In addition to thunderstorms, this system will bring a high chance of tornadoes. Forecasters are predicting the possibility of multiple tornadic outbreaks because of the large amount of energy circulating in the atmosphere.

The greatest risk of tornadoes will be on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Significant stretches of interstate 20, 30, 40, and 55 corridors will be in the line of fire. The storms will first fire up late Monday in an area located to the west of Interstate 55. This line of storms will push eastward into the Great Lakes and Tennessee Valley on Wednesday.

The moisture-rich air coming up from the Gulf will also provide necessary ingredients for locally heavy rain in this part of the country. Urban flooding will be a possibility along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

Blizzard Conditions Also on Tap

Thunderstorms and tornadoes are not the only factors to worry about with this dynamic storm system. The weather maker will also bring a high chance of blizzard conditions as bitterly cold air from Canada flows southward and meets the incoming storm.

High winds and heavy snow are forecast to form as the cold air is pulled into the storm, stretching from the central Rockies to the northern Plains. Blizzard conditions are a good possibility for parts of Colorado, the Dakotas, and northern Minnesota on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Accumulations will total a foot or more with winds wiping this large amount of snow around roadways. Blowing and drifting snow is expected to be a hazard for parts of interstates 29, 90, and 94.

Before the storm moves into the Rockies and northern Plains, it will dump snow on parts of the interior West and Southwest, including Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Be sure to check the road conditions before heading out on interstates 15, 25, 40, 70, and 80.

Watch Out for High Winds

Damaging winds will be a possibility across parts of the southern Plains and the Southwest. In addition to blowing dust and an increased risk of wildfire danger, the winds may be strong enough to knock over high-profile vehicles.

Because this is a developing weather event, the exact track and intensity of all of its associated weather features have not been pinpointed with exact accuracy. There is also a chance that a secondary storm will spin up later in the week along portions of the Eastern Seaboard. The bottom line is that there is a week of rocky weather ahead.

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