Cross-Country Storm Will Pack Snow, Severe Storms and Heavy Rain This Week
(The "L" symbols show the general track of the storm system from Monday through Thursday.)
​
Wednesday and Thursday of next week will likely be the peak of this storm's most impactful weather in the central and eastern U.S. Since that is still several days away, expect changes to the forecast.
​
For now, here's a general overview of what to expect. Check back to weather.com and The Weather Channel app for updates.
Storm Timing
​
Monday-Tuesday
The upper-level disturbance responsible for next week's storm will enter the Northwest on Monday. Rain and mountain snow are expected from Washington, Oregon and Idaho to far Northern California. By Monday night, snow will fall in the Sierra.
​
This system will then dive toward the Southwest, but it will be moisture-starved and won't produce heavy precipitation in much of the West through Tuesday night.
​
Some rain showers might spread into Southern California on Tuesday and possibly end a multi-week dry stretch in Los Angeles; amounts should be light.
​
Mainly light snow accumulations are possible from California's Sierra Nevada into the Wasatch and Rockies through Tuesday night.
Wednesday
The storm system will combine with a sprawling high-pressure system over the western Atlantic to draw increasing moisture into the central U.S. by Wednesday.
​
That means rain and thunderstorms could develop in the Southern Plains, including the possibility of some severe storms.
​
Snow is expected during the day and into the evening from the Rockies into the adjacent High Plains. Snow and a narrow zone of sleet and freezing rain could also develop by Wednesday night in an area that stretches from the Central Plains into the northern and western Great Lakes.
Thursday
Snow and strong winds might be ongoing Thursday from eastern parts of Kansas and Oklahoma to portions of Missouri, northern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, southern Wisconsin and Michigan.
​
Soaking rain is expected from the Ohio Valley into the Deep South. Strong to severe storms could even be a threat in parts of those regions, but it's too early for details on the exact magnitude and timing.
​
The storm should be exiting the Eastern Seaboard on Friday. Mainly rain is expected all the way up the Northeast coastline to Maine, given the milder air ahead of the system.
Rain and Snow Outlook, Impacts
A broad area from the Ohio Valley into the Deep South could see at least an inch of rain from this storm next week. Multi-inch rainfall totals are not out of the question. That could raise the potential for localized flooding in parts of those regions.
​
Snow totals in the Mountain West will be on the lighter side, but any fresh snowpack is welcomed given the lack of recent storms in the region.
​
Multi-inch snowfall totals will be found on the northern side of where this storm tracks from the Plains to the Great Lakes.
​
The purple-shaded areas in the map below show the most likely locations for those heavier totals at this time. Keep in mind this area could shift north or south in the days ahead as forecast guidance hones in more precisely on this storm's future track.
The snow could be accompanied by strong winds in some of these areas. That could cause blowing snow and worsen already difficult travel conditions.
Rain and Snow Outlook
​
(It's too early to provide specific snow totals, but the areas shaded purple have the greatest chance of seeing more significant snowfall. Keep in mind this area could shift in the days leading up to this storm as forecast guidance come into more agreement.)