The country is expected to be hit by a series of storms this week with winter weather warnings in effect on Monday for 60 million people in 23 states, ranging from southern California to the midwest and mid-Atlantic.
Heavy snow is expected to fall on Monday from Central Plains to the Midwest and Great Lakes, where cities like Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and, especially, Chicago could see its biggest snowstorm of the season.
Snowfall rates, predicted at 2 inches per hour at times, are likely to cause treacherous travel conditions and the risk of power outages.
For the Chicago area, heavy snow that occurs around Monday night’s rush hour can also be accompanied by flooding on the shores of Lake Michigan. Strong winds in the Great Lakes are expected to cause large waves and cause flooding. For Lake Michigan, predictions pointed to 3 to 4 meter waves, producing a risk of water splashing on Lake Shore Drive, as well as flooding of nearby parks and parking lots.
On the southern side of the system, severe storms capable of harming winds and isolated tornadoes were forecast for the Tennessee Valley, including Memphis and Nashville, until Monday night.
A winter mix will also move to parts of the middle of the Atlantic on Monday afternoon, lasting until Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, snow will pass from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, while rain and storms last in the Southeast.
Although the forecast is for almost all snow in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions, it is a more complicated forecast for the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. When the storm moves east, you will find some warm air, producing a myriad of rainfall, from rain to freezing rain, hail and snow. This winter mix will mean less snow totals and more likely mud conditions.
1-3 inch rainfall will fall along the storm’s path, along with 6-12 inches of snow in parts of the plains, midwest and northern New England.
For Chicago, 5-10 inches of snow has been forecast, with the largest possible amounts. East coast cities like Washington and New York could see up to two inches of melted snow.
With the departure of this first storm on Tuesday, another storm system will form along the Gulf coast on Wednesday and potentially move along the coast. Uncertainty is high with this system, but it could bring another round of rain, snow and winter mix to parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic by Thursday.
In addition, the west coast also remains in a very active pattern, with constant rounds of storms in the Pacific.
At least three more storms this week will bring more heavy rain and snow from the Pacific Northwest to California, from the east to the desert, southwest and the Four Corners region.
The forecast is for up to 3 inches of rain over coastal areas, with the highest possible local amounts.
Up to 30 inches of snow is possible in parts of the Sierra and Arizona mountains, which will bring welcome relief to the drought-affected region.