Two Winter Storms on Tap for the Week for Millions of Americans

Posted: January 10, 2023 8:57 am

The West Coast is not the only part of the country dealing with massive weather headaches this week. A cross-country storm is moving to the east, bringing a number of impacts and travel delays to the eastern half of the U.S. Here is the latest on this weather maker that will deliver rain, snow, winds, and more.

Early Week Storm System Just the Start of What is to Come

The storm to move through the Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, and Northeast to start the week is just an appetizer compared to the much bigger system setting up for the middle of the week. This second storm will bring in a significant amount of moisture from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, fueling a powerful storm that will impact millions of Americans.

Part of the energy from this upcoming storm will originate from the monster weather maker currently affecting California to start the week. This system will push to the east across the Plains states on Wednesday, bringing rain to the nation’s heartland and into the middle Ohio and Mississippi valleys.

The moisture associated with this system will slowly track to the north late Wednesday, meeting up with the colder air that is now in place. This merger will create areas of freezing rain, sleet, and potentially snow throughout the northeast corner of Kansas and parts of Missouri before expanding all the way into New England in the days to come.

The northern tier of New England will be the most likely area to see a good amount of snow from this system. You can expect to see a slippery commute late Wednesday and into Thursday throughout a large area of interstates 91 and 87 as well as across the New York Thruway.

Chicago and Detroit in the Line of Fire

The large potential impact zone includes a number of metropolitan areas, including the city and suburbs of Chicago. The highest likelihood of the winter precipitation will be on the front and back end of the system. Should Chicago see measurable snow out of this storm, it will likely happen Thursday afternoon and into the evening hours. There is also the chance of lake effect snow for the Windy City on Friday.

The Thursday afternoon rush hour could be a mess for Chiagoans. This weather coming to fruition would also trigger delays in air travel out of one of the nation’s busiest hubs.

Because of the expected difference in temperatures, at this time it looks as if Detroit will escape this weather system with mostly rain as opposed to snow. However, there is the possibility that the rain may evolve into a wet snow on Thursday evening as the mercury drops in the Motor City.

Snow to Strengthen and Expand Overnight Thursday

The storm is predicted to strengthen and grow in the overnight hours Thursday into Friday. This will bring the bands of snow as far north as the top of New England. It will be mostly rain falling to the south across Interstate 80.

The populated Interstate 95 corridor is also forecast to see heavy rain and winds late Thursday and into the early hours of Friday. This gusty storm could also snarl traffic and trigger widespread air travel delays.

Forecasters are also warning that another storm may fire up along the coastal areas of the Eastern Seaboard at the same time that a mass of colder air moves into the region. This would pave the way for a mix of wintry precipitation for many communities in the Northeast.

Could this be the first major snow event of the year for places such as New York City? You will want to keep on top of your daily weather forecast if you live in this corner of the country.

Snow may be possible in an area stretching from New York’s Hudson Valley and up through England, encompassing both New York City and Boston. The timing of this potential snow looks to hover around Friday night. However, there is also the chance that the storm forms so quickly that it hugs the coast. This would result in precipitation mostly in the form of rain rather than snow.

Areas that are most likely to see snow late Friday include the higher terrains of Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. There is also the possibility of snow for portions of Maryland, western New York state, and Pennsylvania beginning late Friday and continuing through Saturday.

Storms in the South

The South is looking at the chance of severe thunderstorms beginning late Wednesday and lasting through the day Thursday. Although it is not likely that this weather maker will pack enough of a punch to create widespread tornadoes, severe weather in the form of flash flooding, strong winds, and hail is on the table. Residents living along parts of interstates 10, 20, and 40 will want to keep an eye on the skies as the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico meets with the warm and moist air anchored over the region.

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