Far-Reaching Alberta Clipper Targets Midwest and Northeast

The forecast Alberta clipper is here. The storm dove down from southern Canada early in the week and is now bringing high winds and snow to a large swath from the Midwest and into the Northeast. Here is the latest on this developing winter weather situation.

Alberta Clipper Diving Down from Canada Through Thursday

Meteorologists are warning that dangerous snow squalls are likely to form across the Northeast with the threat of a flash freeze and bitterly cold air also on deck. The storm that originated in northern Alberta is making its way across the southern edges of Ontario and Quebec on Wednesday. Its impacts will dip to the south and bring winter weather to much of the northern U.S. through at least Thursday.

This weather maker is predicted to intensify in the hours ahead while also growing in size. Snow showers will creep as far south as the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and the southern Appalachians.

A number of winter weather alerts are now in place by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the Great Lakes and across into the interior Northeast. The alerts encompass the snow associated with the clipper as well as the lake-effect snow that is anticipated to form in the aftermath of the system and its cold air.

The heaviest snow bands will set up across northern Minnesota and northern Michigan before moving into upstate New York and New England. Lake-effect snow will once again be an issue for the Great Lakes, however, the magnitude of the precipitation is not likely to approach what the weary region picked up over the Thanksgiving weekend.

High winds will approach speeds of 50 mph for portions of the Midwest and the Northeast through Wednesday. By Thursday, the worst of the winds will be focused on the northeastern corner of the country. For example, top gusts of 65 mph are on tap for the Great Lakes and for the top ridges of the Northeast.

Places like Detroit are forecast to see lingering snow showers through the overnight hours Wednesday and into Thursday. The Motor City will also see winds increase as the day progresses, landing at speeds of 20 to 30 mph with top gusts of about 40 mph overnight.

Moving to the east across the Great Lakes, Buffalo is under a winter weather advisory beginning Wednesday evening and lasting through early Friday. The city along the shores of Lake Erie is forecast to pick up an additional 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight Wednesday with winds clocking in at 20 to 30 mph from the southwest. Lows will fall into the upper 20s overnight. Thursday will dawn with more snow showers and winds still coming in at up to 30 mph. The mercury will struggle to push past the freezing mark for a high before falling back into the low 20s overnight.

Pittsburgh is also going to be in the bullseye for snow flurries and gusty winds. The Steel City will see a chilly overnight with lows forecast to drop to about 23 degrees after the sun goes down.

Clipper Storm Brings Dangerous Road Conditions

The most dangerous aspect of this particular clipper storm will be the threat of snow squalls. While last weekend's snow event was largely confined to a narrow zone downwind of the Great Lakes, the upcoming snow will stretch for hundreds of miles away from the lakes.

Like thunderstorms that ignite during the summer months, snow squalls are more localized in nature. This makes them harder to predict with certainty. The sudden onset of these severe weather events also translate to a rapid drop in visibility on the roadways. Multi-vehicle pile-ups are a prevalent danger during snow squalls as they tend to catch motorists off guard.

Exacerbating the problem will be the possibility of a rapid freeze on the roads. This will happen if the snow squalls deposit moisture on the roads that then refreezes before the high winds dry the surfaces. It does not take a lot of moisture to turn roads into a sheet of ice given the right conditions.

The part of the country that is most at risk of seeing snow squalls and freeze-ups include central and southern Wisconsin, the northern edges of Illinois and Indiana, Michigan's Lower Peninsula, most of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, the northern half of Maryland, the northwestern corner of Virginia, and a large part of New Jersey and the New England region.

There are a number of major metro areas in the Midwest that may see a snow squall or rapid freeze-up develop. These cities include Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Columbus. Residents in these communities will want to be aware of these risks and drive with caution.