Good Day!
A major storm will bring severe thunderstorms, heavy snow and high winds to the Midwest, Ohio, Tennessee Valleys today as low pressure moves from near St. Louis this morning to South Bend by evening. Heavy snow will accumulate from eastern Iowa to northern Michigan, with 12-20" expected in places. Winds gusting to over 60 mph will cause drifts of 3-5 feet in a few places.
Farther south and east, strong thunderstorms, some with strong winds and isolated tornadoes will moves from the TN valley to the Appalachians by evening. Over the Northeast States, high pressure will retreat from New England this morning to eastern Canada by evening as the aforementioned storm approaches. This will cause clouds to increase this afternoon after a sunny start. It will be mild, with highs in the 40s.
After a dry start to the evening, rain will spread west to east across the region from 9 to 1 am. A few downpours will occur. Winds will turn brisk. Winds just a thousand or so feet above the surface will be racing at around 65-70 mph. Mixing of the air in the lower atmosphere will occur just ahead of a cold front, which will cause some of these very strong winds to reach the surface in some places ... especially over Long Island and along the south-facing coasts. Winds will briefly gust to near 60 mph most places, and may hit 70 mph in a few spots. This will lead to some downed power lines and tree limbs.
Friday will be partly sunny and temperatures will fall into the 40s. Windy and variably cloudy weather with occasional flurries and perhaps a brief heavier snow showers will occur Friday night into Saturday night. Winds from the west will gust to near 40 mph during this time. While no snow accumulation will occur in the metro area, an inch could accumulate in the hills northwest of the city.
Tranquil weather expected Sunday—early next week.
Next storm system, which appears to be of similar strength as the current one, will arrive later Wednesday into Thursday. The air will be cooler with this second storm, as the low takes a further south and east path ... this will bring a better chance for frozen precipitation to the city in comparison to the first storm.
Have a great day.
