Winter Weather Pushing Across the Northern U.S. in Days Ahead

A series of fronts and minor storms will sweep through the Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast in the days ahead, bringing a renewed threat of winter weather to the region. Here is a look at what you can expect for moisture as well as how cold the temperatures will dip.

Colder Air and More Snow on the Way for the Northern U.S.

Forecasters are warning that another burst of cold air is headed toward the Midwest, the Northeast, and beyond into next week. This renewed cold air will also support the development of wintry precipitation. While the mercury will not plummet as low as it did last week when the Siberian air mass charged through much of the U.S., it will be cold enough to remind residents that winter is still in place.

The next round of cold air will push down from the Canadian Prairies and into the central and eastern portions of the U.S. in the week ahead. Accompanying the frigid temperatures will be multiple shots of moisture beginning this weekend and persisting into the middle of next week.

The silver lining is that the upcoming colder temperatures will not dip as low as in recent days. Last week's readings landed between 15 and 30 degrees below the historical average. The next wave of Canadian air will fall to no more than 8 degrees below what is normal for the end of January and the beginning of February.

In addition, each cold wave will be separated by brief warmups, providing a bit of relief from the elements. Some of these warming periods will bring the mercury up to readings above the historical average.

How Cold Will it Get?

Looking at a few specific forecasts, Chicago will top out with a high of about 26 degrees on Sunday after seeing readings in the upper 30s for highs on Saturday. The Windy City will see lows hover in the mid teens on both Saturday and Sunday. After a short warmup on Monday and Tuesday with temperatures approaching the 40-degree mark, readings will slide back into the low 30s for highs on Wednesday and Thursday. While this may seem decidedly cold, the coldest nights during the last blast of Arctic air dipped well below zero degrees.

Heading over to New York City, temperatures will bounce around in the low 40s for highs on Sunday through Tuesday. Wednesday is shaping up to be the most pleasant day of the week with a high of 50 degrees under sunny skies. As warned, the warmth in the Big Apple will be short-lived as temperatures tumble to about the freezing level for a high on Thursday. The end of the week will also bring the coldest overnight lows in New York City with temperatures predicted to tumble into the upper teens and low 20s.

Although most of the northern half of the U.S. will escape with just moderately cold temperatures, northern New England will remain at the mercy of the Arctic air. This will result in temperatures that could dip as much as 10 degrees below the norm. For instance, temperatures in Manchester, New Hampshire are expected to max out at about 17 degrees at the end of the week. Overnight lows may also drop to the zero-degree benchmark in this community.

What to Expect for Wintry Precipitation

The question on everyone's mind is what type of moisture to expect out of the upcoming weather pattern. The dominant type of weather maker expected in the coming days will be the garden variety Alberta clipper storms. These storms get their name from their point of origination in the Canadian province. Alberta clippers are typically distinguished by their fast speed, limiting the amount of precipitation in any particular area.

However, the snow associated with clipper events is also known to come down at a quick clip, triggering rapidly deteriorating road conditions and reduced visibility. Motorists will want to be aware of these risks before heading out on the roads in areas in the potential impact zone.

The pattern will also raise the threat of dangerous snow squalls. This is when visibility on the roads could fall to near zero degrees at times.

The chance of snow squalls will be the greatest in the Great Lakes and the Northeast. The first chance will fire up late Saturday and into Sunday. Another shot of clipper precipitation will arrive late Monday and into Tuesday.

Wednesday is looking to be the snowiest day of the week for the eastern Great Lakes. Erie, Pennsylvania is forecast to pick up about 1 to 3 inches of snow on this day with another inch on tap in the overnight hours. It will be chilly with a high in the low to mid 30s and temperatures that fall into the mid teens overnight.