Cross-Country Storm Impacting Large Portion of U.S. This Week With Rain and Snow

Posted: October 10, 2023 8:35 am

A far-reaching cross-country storm is setting up to bring a variety of weather impacts to a large part of the U.S. this week, shaking up the conditions for the Plains and the Rockies. Here is what you need to know about this major storm system that will track from west to east in the coming days.

Rockies and Plains States Up Next in Path of Storm System

A powerful weather maker is going to deliver rain, thunderstorms, and the chance of snow across the nation as it moves from coast to coast. The Pacific Northwest was the first to get in on the action late Monday with heavy bands of rain. The system is forecast to reorganize late Wednesday and into Thursday over the western half of the Plains.

The Rocky Mountain region will see temperatures plummet by the middle of the week as the system pushes through. For instance, after enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures over 80 degrees on Tuesday, Denver will barely reach the 50-degree threshold on Thursday and Friday.

Colorado is not the only state that will see the falling mercury. Areas across Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana will experience temperatures plummeting from the 70s and 80s to start the week into the 40s and 50s as the days progress.

Who May See Snow Develop?

Who is forecast to see snow out of this emerging storm? Jackson, Wyoming will plunge from highs in the mid 60s on Tuesday to a high of just 46 degrees on Wednesday. Overnight lows may be cold enough to support the development of light snow showers by early Thursday. It will be even chillier in Casper, Wyoming with highs of Thursday topping out in the upper 30s, also creating the chance of wet snow.

The rain will change to snow in the top terrains of Wyoming and northern Colorado late Wednesday with the chance of flakes continuing through the day on Thursday as the storm system intensifies. This rain and snow mix is forecast to stretch into the southern tier of Wyoming and across western Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota by late Thursday.

While this will likely be the first snowfall of the season for this area, the accumulation will likely remain on non-paved surfaces. The weekend will bring slightly warmer temperatures back to the interior West.

Plains States to See Severe Weather

It will be severe weather wreaking havoc across the Plains states. The nation’s heartland should expect a good shot of thunderstorms as this storm system ejects from the Rockies. The storms are predicted to erupt as early as Wednesday evening in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas, bringing impacts in the form of high winds and hail.

The rain will spread into southern Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan by Thursday. A secondary zone of severe storms is a possibility in eastern Nebraska and Kansas and across southern Iowa and northern Missouri throughout the day Thursday and into the evening hours. This line of storms will bring the threat of large hail, heavy rain, isolated tornadoes, and localized wind damage.

Although the storm will bring some hazards, the persistent moisture is much-needed for some areas of the central U.S. The soaking rain will also present some challenges for those farmers who are getting ready to harvest their fall crops. Localized flooding will also be a potential issue for some parts of the Upper Midwest.

Severe Weather Spreads to the Northeast by End of Week

The risk of severe storms will hit the Great Lakes and the Northeast by the end of the week. But before moving into this region, it will likely bring some disruptions to travel in major airline hubs such as Chicago and Detroit. The height of the severe weather is expected through Friday night in this area.

While temperatures will start to warm up in the central Plains by the weekend, Saturday is still likely to yield cool and damp conditions in the Northeast. This dreary weather pattern will also impact a large portion of the mid-Atlantic and New England this weekend. Be sure to stay tuned to this developing forecast if you live in this part of the country.

For example, New York City is anticipating yet another rainy weekend. Those in the Big Apple have had a string of poor weather weekends so far this fall, making it difficult to get out and enjoy traditional seasonal activities such as visiting the pumpkin patch.

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