Pre-Valentine’s Day Storm Could Bring Up to 12 Inches of Snow to These Areas
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Love may not be the only thing in the air next week. While Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an early spring for the U.S., winter is not yet over, and the threat of more snow is looming. In a Feb. 7 report , AccuWeather meteorologists revealed that they’re monitoring a winter storm that’s expected to hit early next week after days of unusual warmth. Where and how much snow the storm is set to bring will depend on its strength and track, which continues to fluctuate. Read on to discover more about the pre-Valentine’s Day storm and where several inches of snow are expected.
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A change in the weather pattern is going to bring a “potentially impactful storm” across parts of the U.S. right before Valentine’s Day, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore . The storm is set to appear first on Sunday, Feb. 11, with a strip of accumulating snow across some of the southern High Plains.
“However, the amount of snow that falls in this area could be limited as the air may not be quite cold enough, resulting in more raindrops than snowflakes,” AccuWeather noted.
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As the storm moves east, it may grow colder. The best chance for several inches of snow and icy roads at this point is likely to be in the area near the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri, according to the AccuWeather report.
“Colder air will gradually be drawn into this storm as it moves from the Central states to the Eastern Seaboard,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno explained. “How quickly that occurs will depend on how fast the storm strengthens.”
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If the storm doesn’t strengthen, it’s likely to move from the Ohio Valley to the Central and South Appalachians with just small snow accumulations. At a weakened level, this would bring the potential for a wintry mix in the mid-Atlantic late Monday into Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.
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On the other hand, if the storm strengthens, meteorologists forecast that it will move farther north instead. With this path, it would likely “produce a broadening swath of accumulating snow from the central Appalachians to New England,” according to the report.
“Should the storm develop to its full potential, a heavy snowfall may occur in parts of the Northeast and some people may spend the first part of Valentine’s Day digging out or dealing with possible travel delays in the wake of the storm,” they wrote.
Based on the forecast, it’s expected that parts of Massachusetts, Philadelphia, New York, and Connecticut could experience the most inches of snowfall from Monday to Tuesday. There is a chance of 6 to 12 inches in these areas.
“One thing is for sure, this storm will start a pattern that brings colder, more active weather from the Midwest to the Northeast with reinforcing shots of seasonably cold air masses with the potential for some clipper systems to bring snow events,” DeVore said.
Powerful “Kitchen Sink” Storm Hitting Next Week—What to Expect in Your Region
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Love it or hate it, it’s winter here in the U.S.—and along with chillier temperatures, you can also expect snow and wintry mixes . This weekend, the eastern part of the country is bracing itself for Winter Storm Ember , which is expected to bring snow, ice, rain, and wind. Travel conditions may be dicey for those in this region on Saturday and Sunday, according to meteorologists with The Weather Channel, but if you’re anticipating being in the clear for the workweek ahead, think again. There’s another storm on the horizon, and this one is expected to bring “ everything but the kitchen sink ” to multiple U.S. regions, The Weather Channel Says.
“A few of us meteorologists at weather.com like to throw around the phrase ‘kitchen sink storm’ when a major system like that one checks the boxes for many hazards at once,” Chris Dolce , meteorologist with weather.com, said in a discussion posted on Weather Underground (part of The Weather Company, which owns The Weather Channel/weather.com).
He continued, “These storms occur in the cooler months of the year when the jet stream is more potent and able to generate strong areas of low pressure that can deliver a wide variety of weather conditions given the collision between milder air from the Gulf of Mexico and colder air seeping south from Canada.”
Meteorologists anticipate that this second storm, dubbed Winter Storm Finn, could actually be a “bigger deal” than Ember, largely because it will have a more widespread impact along the Mississippi River and east of it. Read on to find out what you can expect in your region.
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The Weather Channel notes that it’s still a bit early to predict the details of the storm’s impact across all regions, but it is starting in the West. Those in this region can expect snow and rain, with snow potentially affecting travel in valley and mountain locations, including Salt Lake City and Boise, Idaho, the outlet says.
As weather.com meteorologist Domenica Davis explained in an accompanying forecast video, Finn is following a similar path to Ember, but instead of moving off the West Coast, it is moving north, presenting a “potpourri of weather.”
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“A stripe of snowfall” and strong winds are expected north of the storm’s path, per The Weather Channel, namely in the Central Plains into the Midwest and the Great Lakes. For those on the warm side of the storm, i.e. to the south, there’s a chance of heavy rain and winds.
Those in central states can expect peak impacts on Monday and Tuesday, potentially moving into Wednesday, The Weather Channel says.
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Davis said the South could see strong storms, which are “the biggest concern.” The Weather Channel specifies that these storms are possible near the Gulf Coast during the day on Monday and into the evening.
On Tuesday, storms could move into the Southeast, with the possibility for “damaging winds, hail and some tornadoes.” Flooding could also result from the heavy rain expected in this region.
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The Northeast isn’t getting a break after Winter Storm Ember, according to The Weather Channel. Heavy rainfall is predicted to affect the coast and the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C. “Interior areas” of the region are expected to see snowfall or wintry mixes that then turn to rain.
Much like central states, those in the East should expect to face the brunt of the storm on Monday, Tuesday, and potentially Wednesday.
On top of this, Davis pointed out that flooding is a concern for this region as well.
“Especially through parts of the Northeast where you had heavy snow and you see that rain coming in, that could create flooding,” she said in the forecast video.
Regardless of where you live, The Weather Channel stresses that you should pay attention to the latest forecasts, as the storm is likely to change in the coming days.
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In the discussion posted on Weather Underground, senior meteorologist at weather.com Linda Lam noted that there are some parts of the U.S. where weather will be moderate—at least for a little while.
“Much of Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley will have fairly pleasant conditions this weekend,” Lam said. “Dry weather is expected and temperatures will reach into the 50s and 60s. However, rain returns as early as Sunday night and portions of this area will need to be ready for the chance of severe thunderstorms on Monday.”
In the Northeast, Boston will have “milder air” and rain-free skies on Saturday before Ember, with the mid-Atlantic through the Carolinas also getting clear skies on Sunday and no “big-cold” air, weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles added.
