The FOX Forecast Center is tracking a powerful cross-country storm expected to begin Sunday in the West, bringing heavy mountain snow and possible blizzard conditions to higher elevations before continuing to push off to the east, where millions in the Midwest will be at risk of severe weather.
High wind gusts and widespread rain will also be a concern for millions of people in the eastern U.S. as we get closer to closing out the workweek.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said the strong winter storm and cold front will move into the Pacific Northwest later Sunday and through the Rockies over the next few days. Preparations in the region should be rushed to completion as forecasters expect heavy mountain snow, high wind gusts, snow squalls and dangerous travel conditions.
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The Cascades in Washington and Oregon are expected to be hit especially hard by winter weather, as this will be the most impactful storm since early January.
Forecasters said heavy mountain snow will impact the Cascades by Sunday night, where there is a high chance of at least a foot of snow through Tuesday at elevations above 1,500 feet.
However, higher mountain passes in Washington, including Snoqualmie Pass, and Oregon could see 3 feet or more of snow as the storm blasts through the West on its way to the Midwest later this week.
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The snowfall will become heavy at times, with snowfall rates approaching 1 to 2 inches per hour and wind gusts up to 55 mph creating areas of blowing and drifting snow that will greatly reduce visibility.
Snow squalls are also likely along the path of the cold front on Monday over the northern Great Basin and Rockies, which will also lead to a dramatic and rapid drop in visibility and a flash freeze that could make travel extremely dangerous.
Winter weather alerts have been issued across the western U.S. in advance of the powerful storm, including Winter Storm Warnings and Watches and Winter Weather Advisories. Blizzard Warnings have also been issued across a portion of the higher elevations in northeastern Nevada.
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Tuesday could turn out to be a dangerous day in terms of severe weather as the cross-country storm continues to march across the U.S. and moves into the Midwest.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) said scattered strong to severe thunderstorms could develop and may produce damaging wind gusts, hail and possible tornadoes.
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Severe thunderstorms threaten over 48 million people from the Ozarks and mid-Mississippi Valley through the southwestern Great Lakes.
However, the SPC has placed more than 22 million people from eastern Missouri to southwestern Michigan in a Level 2 on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
This Level 2 of 5 risk includes the cities of Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis, as well as Peoria and Springfield in Illinois and Fort Wayne in Indiana.
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The cross-country storm will continue to track eastward and begin to impact millions in the eastern U.S. by Thursday.
The FOX Forecast Center expects plenty of precipitation, including widespread rain and possible snow. However, since that is still several days away, there is some time to fine-tune the forecast, and some changes can be expected.
Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app to be made aware of any changes to the forecast in the coming days.
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As of Sunday, the FOX Forecast Center expected the highest rain totals over the Ohio Valley, stretching into portions of the Tennessee Valley. Portions of western Pennsylvania may also pick up a few inches of rain from the cross-country storm.
Lower rainfall totals are expected in the Northeast and New England, but temperatures may be cold enough to allow for snow to break out, especially in the higher elevations in upstate New York and northern New England.