A system quick to gain all the attention will be impacting the Upper Midwest Sunday into Monday. Snowfall will not be the major issue, but high winds gusting to 50MPH will create widespread blizzard conditions across a huge area of the Midwest late Sunday into Monday. Also bitter cold extreme arctic air will be brought down by the arctic front behind this system and highs will be below zero across a large part of the region as well. This airmass will through the region into Winters Chill for a large part of next week.
Locally Saturday will be colder and windy with gusts up to 35MPH as we see a brief shot of arctic air behind Friday night snow. Highs will start in the 10s and fall to the lower single digits by the evening hours.
Storms Impact Sunday: The major topic at hand Sunday will be the potienal for blizzard conditions later in the day into Monday. We can expect 3 real issues with this system, Extreme cold, blizzard conditions and high winds, but not high snowfall amounts. The NWS already has Winter Storm Watches in place, but locals should realize this is in place for more about the significant blowing snow that is expected, not the snowfall accumulations which will generally be 3-5". I have feelings the watch may be upgraded to a Blizzard Watch later on Saturday. Sunday will actually start off mild with highs in the mid 30s but then the arctic cold front will approach, snow showers will develop and the temperatures will fall throughout the day as winds pick up out the Northwest, by Sunday evening we could be having gusts of 45MPH + picking up the new 3-5" of snow that falls on Saturday. This will create blizzard to near blizzard conditions especially in open areas outside of the larger cites. Blowing and drifting will be an issued and travel impacts are likely. People should consider postponing or cancelling plans. The worst of the blowing will be Sunday into early parts of Monday, however Monday will be very cold in the wake of the passing of the arctic front. Highs will not get above zero and wind chills will be extreamlly cold. Wind Chill Warning statements may be issued as wind chills of -40.F are possible, we can expect actual air temperatures to be around -5.F on Monday. Monday Nights cold will rival or surpass the cold at the start of the month and could approach -20.F in all areas, with of course areas of the north having the best shot.Tuesday through Wednesday we will calm things down as we will be in the middle of the arctic airmass. It will be cold and dry both days with highs barely above zero Tuesday and moderating to thew upper single digits Wednesday. Thursday we increase the clouds some and we will finally crack the 20s for a high.
Saturday, Cold! Falling temperatures with gusty and cold northwest winds. Highs in the single digits by the evening hours. Saturday Night, Snow developing, some could be moderate at times. Lows rising to the upper 20s
Sunday, Snow likely, some could be moderate at times, Temperatures Start off in the 30s then falling to the single digits late. Strong Northwest winds developing later in the day and gusting to 45MPH + at times. Significant drifting and blowing snow likely with blizzard conditions possible at times. Sunday Night, Windy with significant blowing and drifting snow. Gusts up to 45MPH, blizzard conditions possible. Lows below zero with extreme wind chills.
Monday, Very Cold! and blustery with extreme wind chills. Sunny skies with highs around the mid single digits below zero. Monday Night, Very Cold! Lows in the upper 10s to lower 20s below zero.
Tuesday, Cold! and sunny. Not as blustery with sunny skies. Highs in the lower single digits above zero. Tuesday Night, Cold and clear with lows in the lower to middle 10s below zero.
Wednesday, Moderating temperatures. Sunny with highs in the middle 10s. Wednesday Night Clear skies with lows in the upper single digits.
Thursday, Warmer with increasing clouds. Highs in the mid 20s. Thursday Night Cloudy skies with lows in the upper 10s.
Friday, Snow developing. Minor accumulations possible. Highs in the upper 20s.
Looking Ahead
As you saw above Friday appears to be our next chance of snow. At this point i looks like a few inches are a possibility, this could last into Saturday of next weekend. Sunday the 2nd looks fair for cloudiness with highs in the upper 20s. Monday through Wednesday 3rd through the 5th looks dry, sunny with temperatures around to just below normal. Thursday the model does get a little interesting. Possible a little to interesting to be taken seriously at this time. The model shows a winter storm system quickly developing over Kansas and then moving east spreading heavy snows and highs winds, possible blizzard conditions over a huge swath of the Midwest including all of Iowa and most of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. In the wake of this storm, yet another bitterly cold arctic airmass settles down from the north Friday through Sunday the 9th. Temperatures could again rival this and early January lows/highs. This is certainly becoming a very long and harsh winter for much of the region.
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