A second storm in as many days will bring travel-disrupting snow to parts of the Plains and Midwest Wednesday through Thursday, and up to a foot of snow could fall in more than a half-dozen states, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
The snow and dramatically colder air will mark a big change across much of the area, where high temperatures in the 60s and even spring-like storms were common just a day or two ago.
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The storm responsible for the heavy snow was moving southwest on Tuesday after bringing colder air and accumulating snow to much of the Interior West earlier in the week. It is behind an initial storm that was causing thunderstorms across the middle of the country on Tuesday. This first storm will bring a strong storm threat and help bring near-record warmth to parts of the South and East on Wednesday and Thursday.
Snow from the first storm will descend on the northern Plains and upper midwest, including Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin through Wednesday. Ahead of the second storm, fresh, cold air from Canada will push further south through the Plains and into the lower Midwest by midweek, setting the stage for accumulating snow.
“The big hand will fall along a 1,200-mile stretch of land from eastern Colorado to northern Michigan and affect hundreds of interstate miles,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
Denver will be the first major metropolitan area east of the Rockies to experience significant snow Tuesday night into Thursday night. Snow is expected to fall heavy enough in the Mile High City to affect air traffic in and out of Denver International Airport. Accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected over most surfaces as temperatures drop from the daytime 40s on Tuesday to the twenties on Wednesday.
The heaviest band of 6 to 12 inches of accumulated snow will expand east with the storm as it moves from the Central Plains and into the Midwest through Thursday, affecting cities such as Salina, Kan., Des Moines, Iowa Green Bay and Milwaukee. Wis., and Traverse City, Mich.
Several inches of snow are forecast on either side of the heaviest snow bands in cities such as Omaha, Neb., Dubuque, Iowa, Rockford, Ill. and Grand Rapids, Mich. While shovels may only be needed instead of snow blowers and plows in this area, the storm will still create slippery travel conditions.
Chicago, which as of Monday had recorded just half of normal snowfall so far this winter (14.2 inches at O’Hare International Airport vs. the historical average of 26.4 inches), will be largely spared the storm, with less than an inch forecast will pile up there as temperatures try to drop below freezing before the rain ends on Thursday.
| Seasonal snowfall arrives by Monday. |
Beyond the threat of excellent driving conditions brought on by the snow, a drop in temperature along with and after the storm will endanger drivers and pedestrians, including those in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday. at night.
“As the slush freezes, ice ruts will form on the road and add to the dangers for motorists,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz said.
That temperature drop will reach Omaha early Wednesday, just 36 hours after the mercury soared into the low 60s Monday afternoon. In Milwaukee, the record high temperature of 55 Tuesday afternoon will be challenged, then subfreezing temperatures and snow are expected in the city by Thursday morning.
Strong and gusty winds will accompany the snow in many areas as atmospheric pressure drops rapidly. This could create near-storm conditions for several hours that will significantly reduce visibility and make travel hazardous.
Interstates 29, 35, 70, 80, 90 and 94 will be affected by snow and wind. Forecasters say motorists should avoid or delay travel in affected areas as the heavy snow passes.
It won’t take long for the thawing process to begin after the storm, as sunshine and milder temperatures are forecast to return later in the week and into the weekend. In Denver, temperatures will drop above freezing on Friday and climb into the 50s on Saturday and Sunday. Likewise, in Milwaukee, the mercury will settle into the upper 40s later in the weekend.
