Winter’s “Vengeance” Storm Could Bring a Foot of Snow to These Regions Tomorrow
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A wave of unseasonably warm weather over the weekend might’ve lulled some into thinking spring was already kicking off . But those who were expecting to pack away their heavy coats for the season might soon be disappointed by Mother Nature. That’s because meteorologists say a winter’s “vengeance” storm could bring up to a foot of snow to some places tomorrow. Read on to see which areas will see the most accumulation and how it could affect your plans.
RELATED: “Polar Vortex Disruption” Will Send U.S. Temps Plummeting—Here’s When .
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The latest bout of balmy weather might’ve been a nice break from the harsh realities of winter, but a major storm system now moving through the eastern U.S. could bring some extreme conditions along with it.
On Monday, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned that roughly 33 million people in the Southeast were at risk of severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, CNN reports. The agency said that the area—which runs from Mississippi through the Florida Panhandle and up to North Carolina—could see flooding, hail, and possibly tornadoes.
Major cities impacted by the weather include Atlanta, which could see between three and five inches of rain fall before the end of the day, Fox Weather forecasts. Experts caution that heavy precipitation is expected to hit large swaths of the region before tomorrow morning.
“A lot of this is going to be concentrated—not just closer to the Gulf Coast itself, but in the central and northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia,” Fox Weather meteorologist Craig Herrera said during a Feb. 12 update. “So those of you who have been kind of getting in on the action, but not the heavy action, you will start to see that.”
RELATED: Live in These 10 Places? You’re Most at Risk for “Extreme Winter Weather” .
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However, things will look a little different farther north when the system continues its move later tonight and through tomorrow. An area stretching from the Ohio and Mississippi valleys through the mid-Atlantic and up into New England could see heavy rain and snowfall , bringing some places more of the white stuff than they’ve seen in years, AccuWeather reports.
“Winter will return with a vengeance as the storm moves along a push of colder air that will set the stage for more typical conditions for the middle and latter part of February,” AccuWeather meteorologist Matt Rinde said.
By late Monday, snow is expected to accumulate in parts of southern Indiana, parts of Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. Some places could see one to three inches of snow and slush on the ground, including Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, AccuWeather reports.
RELATED: Meteorologists Say 2024 Will “Amplify Hurricane Activity”—Here’s Where .
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Over Monday night and through early Tuesday, areas farther east will begin to see some significant snow accumulation. Forecasts show that cities like Philadelphia could see one to three inches of accumulation, while New York could get five to eight inches through tomorrow, Fox Weather reports.
Unfortunately, the timing of the storm could create a mess on the roads . “Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the NWS said in an alert. “Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday morning and evening commute.”
Meteorologists also cautioned that coastal flooding could be an issue for New York, New Jersey, and New England tomorrow, CNN reports. Some officials warned residents to stay alert, watch forecasts, and prepare for any changes or disruptions.
“I have directed State agencies to mobilize in preparation for this storm and urge everyone to watch for weather and travel updates as it develops,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Feb. 10.
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While this might be the most significant snowfall for places like New York City in over two years, other areas could be in for even more of an impact. Current forecasts show eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York, and southern New England could see eight to 12 inches fall, including the Boston area, Fox Weather reports. Pockets of more than a foot and a half are possible in some higher-elevation areas.
Meteorologists warned that the incoming Nor’easter could also snarl flights from airports in the region, even in places without the heaviest snowfall. But they also said a last-minute change in conditions could shift the brunt of the storm significantly.
According to AccuWeather, the system might still make a southern turn later tonight. The change would see places like New York City and Philadelphia winding up with “heavy, plowable accumulation of snow” and even bring some flakes to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Delaware.
Regardless of how much of the white stuff ends up on the ground, it’s still expected to bring back colder temperatures to the region, AccuWeather reports.
- Source: NWS: Watches, Warnings, & Advisories
“Arctic Blast” and Widespread Snow Predicted for Next Month—Here’s Where
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The kickoff to 2024 has served as a reminder of just how severe winter weather can get. From freezing temperatures to devastating flooding , few regions have been spared since January began. But with several weeks to go before spring kicks in, meteorologists have already predicted there could be another “arctic blast” and more widespread snow next month. Read on to see why conditions could get so extreme in February and what regions the weather could affect the most.
RELATED: Polar Vortex Could Bring “Severe Winter Weather” to the U.S.—Here’s When .
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The frigid temperatures that swept across the nation earlier this month were a jolting reminder that winter had arrived. However, the colder-than-usual conditions were actually the result of a weather pattern known as the “polar vortex.”
The term refers to a counterclockwise flow of air that keeps a block of low pressure and cold air at the planet’s poles in place, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS). Occasionally, it descends into the continental U.S.—and meteorologists say this explains why so many regions woke up to freezing conditions earlier this month.
“It appears as though the minor [vortex] warming during the first week of January and the subsequent destruction of the polar vortex in the lower stratosphere were enough to at least help set the stage for the cold air outbreak over North America this past weekend,” Climate.gov wrote.
RELATED: Weather Predictions Keep Changing—What the Unpredictable Shifts Mean for You .
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Even as last week’s cold snaps have reversed course into some unseasonably warm weather , it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last arctic blast of the winter . According to a blog post by Judah Cohen , an atmospheric scientist and director of seasonal forecasting at Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER), the polar vortex is a “rapidly transitioning situation” that will “come down to rinse, lather, repeat.”
Cohen explained his reasoning during an interview with Fox Weather on Jan. 23, where he also outlined how he believes the forecast will play out in the coming weeks. However, the next cold wave might start off with the opposite weather you expect.
“For the first half of January, that polar vortex kind of stumbled and fell foul there, moved south. We had the arctic outbreak,” Cohen told the network. “But now it’s, it’s back together, let’s say, and, it’s a very tight spin, rotation of the polar vortex. All the cold air is receding back towards the North Pole, and we’re going to have a milder end of the month of January.”
RELATED: 7 Ways to Winter-Proof Your Car, According to Experts .
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However, the rising mercury may end up being a red herring for what’s to come.
“We’re probably going to see a record warm, like we had that happen in December,” Cohen told Fox Weather in his near-term prediction. “But I do think then, often when you have these Canadian warmings, the polar vortex then tends to transition into a very large disruption called a sudden stratospheric warming or a stretching event, like a rubber band (pulling cold air south).”
Cohen told the network that these very conditions are what created this month’s frigid conditions, and he believes there’s a “good chance” it will repeat itself next month.
“I think in the time frame of the second week of February and even possibly mid-February a stretched polar vortex is becoming more likely,” he told Fox Weather. “This should help end the very mild pattern in place across North America. The intensity and duration of cold weather associated with the stretched polar vortex is yet to be determined.”
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Dealing with another blast of freezing temperatures may be par for the course as far as winter is concerned. But Cohen also says some regions could see more snow and extreme weather head their way as another variable affects conditions.
Weather forecasts still consider the effects of El Niño in the winter, which describes a patch of warmer-than-average water off the coast of South America. Typically, it generates wetter weather in the West while bringing more mild, less snowy conditions to the East Coast, according to National Geographic . But as the season progresses, the weakening warmth could bring about a drastic change on top of the polar vortex.
“As far as El Niño, I do think that less than strong is better for snow and cold in the East,” Cohen told The Washington Post in an email.
Altogether, Cohen believes those who are hoping for an early start to spring will be disappointed by what’s likely coming. “I don’t think it’s the end of winter,” he told Fox Weather. “I think it’s not a breakdown of the pattern, but I think a relaxing pattern.”
- Source: NWS: What Is the Polar Vortex?
- Source: NOAA Climate.gov: The polar vortex is acting up
