Early Week Clipper Storm Will Usher in Snow to the Northeast

It is looking as if a narrow zone from the Great Lakes and into the Northeast may see a white Christmas thanks to a quick Alberta clipper storm that is set to spread snow as the holiday week begins. Here is a look at this potentially disruptive forecast.

Advancing Clipper Storm Raises Risk of Snow for Great Lakes and Northeast

An early week storm system is going to whip up the winds and deposit snow across some parts of the Great Lakes and into the Northeast. Those heading out for the holidays may be dealing with hazardous road conditions as a result of the quick-hitting storm.

The weather maker is forecast to push across the Great Lakes beginning on Monday, arriving in parts of the Northeast on Tuesday. Widespread snowfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected for an area from northern Wisconsin and across into northern Pennsylvania and Down East Maine. The swath of land from northern Michigan and over into the Adirondacks and the Green and White mountains may see snowfall of up to 6 inches. The greatest degree of snow is forecast for northern Michigan and up into the southern edge of Ontario.

Warmer temperatures along the southern fringe of the system will result in rain for the Ohio Valley and the western Great Lakes. You can also expect some wet snowflakes mixing in with the rain depending on the temperature at the time.

For instance, Chicago is predicted to see a bit of both rain and snow showers beginning late Sunday and into early Monday. Highs on Monday and Tuesday will hover around the 40-degree mark while lows will drop into the low to mid 30s.

The rain and snow mix will push to the east and into Detroit by Monday afternoon. Falling temperatures in the evening will result in the rain changing to snow flurries. This could spell trouble for the evening commute, particularly on elevated surfaces such as overpasses and bridges. The timing of the worst of the wintry precipitation happening after dark will elevate the risk on the roads. Highs on Monday will top out at about 36 degrees in Detroit before sliding just a few degrees lower after the sun goes down.

The line of snow will reach areas as far to the east as Syracuse, New York by Monday evening. The metro area is forecast to see little variation in the temperatures on Monday with a high of 36 degrees and a low of 33 degrees. It will be a bit breezy with winds out of the south-southwest at 10 to 15 mph.