The largest storm so far this winter is predicted to strengthen over the central and eastern United States next week, unleashing everything from severe weather to possible blizzard conditions.
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00:00 Yes, we have a storm to work through
00:02 this weekend in the Northeast,
00:03 but there's another storm following on its heels.
00:05 That's going to bring some big problems
00:07 across the middle of the country all
00:09 the way to the eastern seaboard.
00:11 Monday, Tuesday,
00:11 Wednesday of this coming week.
00:12 These are the threats we're looking at.
00:14 Snow to the Midwest in the Great Lakes.
00:16 Severe weather from the Gulf Coast
00:18 all the way to the Carolinas and
00:19 flooding for the southeast and Northeast.
00:21 Let's dig in.
00:22 Here's a look at the storm as we get to Monday.
00:25 This thing starts to dip dive
00:26 across the South Central states,
00:27 at which point the Gulf of Mexico
00:29 comes back into play.
00:30 That's a huge moisture source and
00:32 that helps to aid that soaking rain.
00:34 And there is enough moisture on the
00:36 backside and enough cold air on the
00:37 backside of this storm that winter
00:39 comes back into the picture for a
00:41 lot of cities like Chicago that
00:43 haven't seen a good dose of snow yet.
00:45 This year, but here we go Monday and Tuesday.
00:48 Chicago Peoria, Des Moines,
00:49 Green Bay all the way back to
00:51 Garden City in Kansas City.
00:52 We are looking at a big stripe
00:54 of snow with this storm,
00:55 and I want to mention we could have
00:57 conditions that are just right.
00:59 For a blizzard,
01:00 it would be a very finite area,
01:02 but still something we're tracking here.
01:04 Now, why do I say that so cautiously?
01:06 Because a blizzard is hard to get.
01:08 You have really specific criteria
01:09 you have to meet.
01:10 For example,
01:11 you need blowing or falling snow winds
01:13 of 35 mph or more visibility down
01:15 to 1/4 mile or less and all of that
01:17 nonsense has to happen for three or
01:19 more hours in order for something to
01:21 technically be considered a blizzard.
01:23 So it's not easy,
01:24 but it's possible Monday and Tuesday.
01:26 Keep an eye out.
01:27 We'll have the forecast
01:28 throughout the week here.
01:30 Now in terms of the flooding potential,
01:32 I want to talk about not just the
01:34 soaking rain in the southeast.
01:35 That's a concern in itself,
01:36 but my real concern as we head through
01:39 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday is in the
01:40 Northeast and it's not just because
01:42 of the heavy rain that's a part of
01:44 the equation, but it's also that.
01:45 The Northeast has had a very
01:47 soaking last two months or so,
01:49 and then we have the storm this weekend.
01:51 It's going to dump a bunch
01:52 of snow into the region.
01:54 All of that moisture,
01:55 and then some melting snow with the
01:57 incoming rain in the previously
01:58 saturated ground.
01:59 Well, there's not a lot of places
02:01 for that moisture to go,
02:02 so I am concerned about not just
02:04 flooding but the potential of some
02:06 river stream and Creek flooding as
02:08 well as we get through your next
02:10 couple of days as it would get
02:12 really into next week.
02:13 Now in terms of severe weather,
02:15 here's the risk.
02:15 It's a some risk on Monday.
02:17 Areas like Houston,
02:18 New Orleans,
02:19 Jackson,
02:19 Baton Rouge,
02:20 back toward Pensacola,
02:21 up to Montgomery.
02:22 You are in this risk now.
02:24 Some represents the idea that it's
02:26 literally some severe weather possible.
02:27 It's not a widespread outbreak,
02:29 but it is some severe weather in
02:31 January, a time when a lot of people.
02:33 Really don't have their minds on severe
02:35 weather, so I want to make sure it's on
02:38 yours as we head through Monday and Tuesday.
02:40 Tuesday the risk heads out toward the
02:42 East Coast, Tallahassee, Jacksonville,
02:43 Savannah, Charleston and Fayetteville,
02:45 NC all in a some risk on Tuesday
02:47 and Tuesday night.
02:48 Both days we're looking at damaging
02:50 gusty winds, flooding downpours,
02:51 an isolated tornadoes.
02:52 Again, folks,
02:53 this is a big storm will be tracking
02:55 it here in Accuweather.
02:56 Stay tuned and stay safe.