A major storm system system was moving from the central Plains towards the Upper Midwest this afternoon and causing widespread heavy snow and blizzard conditions in the northern/Central Plains and wintry mixed precipitation in the Upper Midwest.
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Snow rates of 1-2 inches per hour and winds gusting to 45-60 mph in the northern/central Plains will create near zero visibility at times, and snow will cover roads.
Travel will be extremely difficult to nearly impossible in some areas, and power outages and harsh livestock conditions are expected.
The storm will track through the Upper Midwest on Thursday, then slow down while weakening in the Great Lakes region late this week.
Hazardous conditions are expected to continue across the northern Plains and intensify across the Upper Midwest on Thursday.
Additional snow accumulations of 8-12 inches are expected with locally higher amounts possible for portions of the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin through Thursday.
The highest snow accumulations are expected across the Minnesota arrowhead where additional snowfall could reach 18-24+ inches.
Conditions will relax on Friday as the storm system weakens.
A strong cold front is extending from the storm system impacting the north central U.S.
and causing severe weather in the South and Southeast.
The front was stretched along the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley this afternoon while pushing east.
Ahead of and along the front, conditions are favorable for the development of many severe thunderstorms today.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a broad Enhanced Risk of Severe Thunderstorms (level 3/5) for much of the south near the northern Gulf Coast with an embedded Moderate Risk (level 4/5) for portions of southeast Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and western/southern Alabama.
Potential severe storm threats include tornadoes, some may be strong, and damaging thunderstorm winds, which will continue to threaten the region through tonight.
Convection is likely to be sustained and slow moving, which will result in heavy downpours and flash flooding.
There is a Moderate Risk of Excessive Rainfall (level 3/4) in effect from eastern Louisiana to western Alabama through tonight where the risk of flash flooding is highest.
As the front progresses east on Friday, the severe weather threat will shift into the Southeast.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms (level 2/5) for parts of Florida, coastal/southern Georgia, and coastal South Carolina for Friday.
Scattered severe storms will be possible and the main threats will be a few tornadoes and damaging thunderstorm winds.
Shifting back to the north, winter weather is expected to impact portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Thursday and Friday.
The upper level low associated with winter storm in the Plains/Upper Midwest will move east and spawn a surface low along the east coast in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The low will track northwards along the coast through the end of the week.
Freezing rain and icy mixed precipitation are expected to begin early Thursday morning in the northern/central Appalachians and portions of the interior Mid-Atlantic region then expand into the interior Northeast during the day on Thursday.
Freezing rain totals between 0.1-.25 inches, locally higher, will be possible in the Central Appalachians of western Virginia, eastern West Virginia, the Maryland Panhandle, and central/Western Pennsylvania.
Icy precipitation could impact travel during the morning commute along the I-95 corridor.
As precipitation spreads northwards, rain will develop across the Mid-Atlantic and snow is expected over the interior Northeast.
Snow will continue through Friday in the interior Northeast and will be heavy at times at the higher elevations.
Precipitation will taper off over the weekend in the Northeast as the system exits into the Atlantic. ■