More Rain, Snow, and Severe Weather to Start the New Year for a Large Portion of U.S.

Posted: December 31, 2022 11:25 am

A new multi-faceted weather system is gearing up to cause more havoc throughout the central and southern U.S. to start the first work week of the year 2023. Here is what you can expect with the first major weather maker of the year.

Southern and Central U.S. to See Multi-Faceted Storm System

This widespread storm system will bring a host of varied impacts, including snow, freezing rain, heavy rainfall, flooding, and severe thunderstorms. The Four Corners area will see the first of these impacts on New Year’s Day, coming in the form of rain in the valley and snow in the higher terrains. The storm will pick up more energy as it moves down from the Colorado Rockies at the beginning of the week.

A mass of mild air that is currently anchored over the southeastern corner of the nation will provide the necessary fuel for thunderstorms to erupt beginning Monday afternoon. It will feel more like spring than the winter with these weather impacts in place. For instance, the high temperatures will hover in the middle to upper 70s throughout Texas and stretching across the Gulf Coast.

The mercury will also be warmer than normal in areas farther to the north. Some cities may even see record highs challenged in the coming days. The record high for January 2 in Dallas is 78 degrees, dating back to 2004. While the city may fall just short of this record, it may come close to eclipsing it during the peak afternoon heating hours.

Severe Weather Outbreak a Possibility in the South

Winds from the south are forecast to move up through the Gulf of Mexico early in the week, delivering warm and moist air to the South Central U.S. in the process. This air will pair with a dip in the jet stream to provide the ingredients needed for severe weather to break out in eastern Texas and expand into Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi at the beginning of the week.

The storm pattern on Monday may move as far north as Missouri and Illinois. Cities in the primary impact zone include Houston, Dallas, and Little Rock. In addition to localized flash flooding, the storm system will also present the threat of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

By Tuesday, the risk of severe weather will push to the east, bringing the impacts to the Southeast. While the chance of severe weather is not as high on Tuesday when compared to Monday, this part of the country will not be completely out of the woods. Cities that can expect to see storms pop up on Tuesday include New Orleans, Biloxi, and Mobile. The far western suburbs of Atlanta may also be under the gun for an isolated storm.

The Great Lakes region may also experience flooding as the massive amounts of snow in place begins to melt by the middle of the week.

Snow on Tap for the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest

While it has been reasonably warm for this time of year across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest over the last several days, that is about to change with more cold air on the way. The colder temperatures will translate to a wintry precipitation mix for the back side of the storm system.

The highest amount of snow is forecast to fall in an area stretching from the Front Range of Colorado and Wyoming and into the central and northern Plains starting late Sunday. By Tuesday, the snow will have migrated into the Upper Midwest. The Colorado Rockies and the Wasatch Mountains in Utah will see significant amounts of snow out of this system.

Prior to the snow’s arrival, some areas may see sleet or freezing rain. The greatest potential of this wintry mix will be late Monday into Tuesday in an area expanding from northwestern Kansas and into southeastern Minnesota.

Road travel may be subject to disruptions along some stretches of interstates 29, 35, 90, 94, and 80 on both Monday and Tuesday. In addition to slick roads, the region may be dealing with reduced visibility concerns.

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