The transition of season’s will deliver plenty of winter and spring-like headaches across the western U.S. to the nation’s midsection through midweek.
An area of low pressure developing across the eastern Colorado and western Kansas High Plains tonight will intensify and accelerate east-northeast toward southern Lake Michigan through Wednesday evening. The storm’s northern and western fringe where sub-freezing temperatures exist will deliver a band of heavy snow complete with blizzard conditions.
Blizzard Warnings remain in effect from northeastern Colorado and northwestern Kansas to northwestern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Lincoln, Omaha, and McCook, Neb., Sioux City and Mason City, Iowa, and Rochester and Albert Lea, Minn., are included.
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from the Wyoming and Colorado Rocky Front Range to northwestern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Cheyenne, Wyo., Aspen, Colo., North Platte, Neb., Wausau and Eau Claire, Wis., and Marquette, Mich., are included.
Snow will pile up, with a zone of 4 inches to locally more than a foot of accumulation forecast from northern Kansas and southern and eastern Nebraska to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Similar storm totals will occur along the Wyoming and Colorado Rocky Front Range until Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, a couple dangerous thunderstorms could develop in the storm’s warm sector ahead of a cold front from Iowa to Mississippi, Alabama, and as far east as western Ohio on Wednesday afternoon through early Thursday morning.
Chicago and Aurora, Ill., and Indianapolis will need to keep a close eye to the sky for severe weather on Wednesday. This is where the government’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk. Other cities such as Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St. Louis to Nashville, Birmingham, Ala., and Jackson, Miss., could have a dangerous storm encounter, too.
Strong, potentially power-disrupting wind gusts will remain a concern through midweek for much of the nation’s midsection. Peak gusts of 60 to 75 mph will make travel difficult, if not impossible, especially in blowing dust or blizzard-like conditions. Widespread High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories remain in effect from New Mexico to Iowa and far southern Minnesota and as far east as Kentucky and Tennessee.
It’s never too early to prepare for inclement weather. Simply by having an emergency kit equipped with a weather radio, extra batteries, non-perishable food, water, clean clothes and blankets will go a long way in keeping your family safe, warm and protected. Be sure to check the WeatherBug App or your local weather stations to keep informed on the approaching w
