February Parade of Storms Roars Into the New Week

A pair of new storms will target the central and eastern U.S. next week as the February storm train continues to spell unsettled weather for millions of Americans. Here are the details about what is next.

Early Week Storm Coming Together in Southern Plains

Forecasters are warning residents of the central and eastern states that more trouble is on the way in the form of rain, ice, accumulating snow, and thunderstorms. The first storm will form in the southern Plains early in the week, bringing the threat of severe weather to the south and snow and ice in areas to the north.

The precipitation will first impact parts of Texas and Oklahoma on Monday before moving to the north into Kansas. This system will move quickly, arriving to the Eastern Seaboard on Tuesday. Cold air diving deeper into the south will merge with the moisture filtering up from the Gulf of Mexico to generate measurable snow in a zone from the Plains and over to the mid-Atlantic and up into southern New England. This will result in the threat of travel disruptions across some of the biggest metro areas in the region by Tuesday.

Cities in the southern tier of the country will see temperatures remain warm enough to keep the moisture falling as rain. However, the clash of temperatures will also raise the risk of severe thunderstorms on the front end of the storm.

For instance, Dallas is forecast to see the rain become a steady stream of moisture after the sun goes down on Monday. The metroplex is forecast to pick up about a quarter of an inch of rain overnight with another half of an inch in store on Tuesday. There will be little variation in the temperatures with a forecast high of about 45 degrees and lows that bottom out at the 40-degree mark.

Tuesday's Forecast Calling for More of the Same

A steady rainfall will erupt on Tuesday through the Mississippi Valley and the Gulf Coast. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are a good possibility for many communities. The heaviest is forecast to fall in a zone from eastern Texas and into northern Louisiana and central portions of Mississippi and Alabama.

The rain will hold off for all of the Super Bowl festivities on Sunday in New Orleans. However, spectators hoping to squeeze in some extra time after the game in the Big Easy will be met with soggy conditions. Light rain showers on Monday and Tuesday will evolve into the chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday. After dipping to about 70 degrees for a high on Monday, the temperatures in New Orleans will climb back into the upper 70s by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Chiller temperatures to the north will mean that the moisture falls as sleet, freezing rain, or snow from Kansas and through the mid-Atlantic. Widespread snowfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are in the forecast with higher accumulations for areas that see the moisture train stall out.

Kansas City will see the flakes start to fly on Tuesday with little accumulation likely. The metro area will wake up to more snow on Wednesday with 3 to 5 inches of accumulation in the forecast as yet another storm pushes through the central Plains. It will be a chilly few days with highs topping out in the mid to upper 30s.

The early week storm will reach portions of Appalachia and the mid-Atlantic later in the day Tuesday. The latest forecast models indicate that areas in West Virginia and northern Virginia could see snow up to 6 inches. Some of the wet snow may transition to more dangerous sleet or freezing rain later overnight Tuesday, spelling trouble for commuters.

Motorists using Interstate 81 in Virginia may see dangerous road conditions during the Tuesday evening commute and again on Wednesday morning with improving conditions later in the day. The bulk of the early week system will move offshore by the end of the day Wednesday. The region will get just a short reprieve before the next weather arrives.

Details of Wednesday's Storm

The midweek storm is expected to wobble farther to the north as it moves to the east, impacting the northern Plains, the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley before reaching the Northeast. This storm is shaping up to be even stronger than its predecessor, particularly for the mid-Atlantic and New England.

Places such as Chicago should prepare for the snow to arrive by Wednesday afternoon just in time for the evening commute. The Windy City is forecast to pick up about an inch of accumulation during the day with another 1 to 3 inches in store overnight. Highs will hover in the mid 20s for most of next week, meaning that any snow that falls will be slow to melt. It will also be breezy on Wednesday with winds clocking in at 10 to 20 mph.

Sleet, freezing rain, and ice will also be back on the table for the mid-Atlantic region and up into New England. For instance, Concord, Massachusetts is forecast to see 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight Wednesday that could evolve into a snow and ice mix on Thursday. This part of New England is currently forecast to see wintry precipitation accumulations of at least 6 inches from the midweek storm.

The system will push to the northeast through Thursday before finally moving off of the coast. An area of high pressure will build behind the storm, providing mostly dry conditions on Friday for a zone from the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast.

However, the break from the elements will not last long. Meteorologists are warning that another storm could ignite across the central U.S. by next weekend, eventually making its way to the eastern states. We will continue to keep tabs on this possible weekend event and keep you informed.

Active February Weather Pattern

It has already been a rough start to the month of February. Last week's action fired up on Wednesday and persisted through Thursday, bringing snow and ice to the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. This same system also was responsible for a rash of severe thunderstorms in Kentucky and Tennessee. At least two fatalities have been blamed on a likely tornado touchdown.

While none of the storms on their own are considered to be blockbuster weather events, the successive nature of the systems will amplify their impacts. In addition to creating delays at airports and on the roads, the train of storms and its associated moisture could also trigger supply chain disruptions.

The Southeast will continue to be at risk of severe weather through the end of the week. The persistent rounds of rain could bring over 6 inches of moisture to this corner of the U.S, increasing the concerns of flash flooding.

While the bulk of this active weather pattern will focus on the eastern half of the U.S. through next week, one storm system firing up late in the week could usher in significant moisture to California. The moisture is good news for the parched region, however, too much rain too quickly could trigger burn scar flooding in areas recently impacted by wildfires.

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