Double trouble: 2 storms threaten millions with snow, ice
ARLINGTON, Va. − Much of the Midwest and East were bracing Monday for a blast of snow and ice as a series of weather fronts promised to bring weather havoc to more than 100 million Americans this week.
Two winter storms threatened to roll across the nation in the next few days before a possible "atmospheric river" sweeps into California with what could be multiple inches of rain in Southern California and multiple feet of snow in the Sierra.
The first winter storm was expected to bring light snow to cities such as Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday night. But as it moves east, it will become more dangerous. In Washington, D.C., and suburbs including Arlington, the weather service is calling for 4-6 inches Tuesday and early Wednesday.
That's enough snow to bring travel havoc to the nation's capital, which took several days to recover from a storm that dumped several inches on the region last month. But AccuWeather senior forecaster Dan DePodwin says that snow estimate for the Washington area could be conservative.
"It looks like the day starts dry, but the snow moves in during the day," DePodwin said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see 7, 8, 9 inches in and around D.C."
Developments:
∎ An arctic high pressure system moving into the Upper Midwest by Tuesday evening will bring temperatures 25 to 40 degrees below average across the Northern Rockies and Northern plains, the Weather Prediction Center said.
∎ Heavy rain that could prompt flooding is forecast for much of the Southeast on Tuesday and Wednesday. Memphis could see 3 inches of rain; Jackson, Mississippi, is forecast to see up to 4 inches, the National Weather Service said.
Second storm could dump a foot of snow
It's the second storm that will have the biggest impact on cities such as Kansas City. The storm could drop close to a foot of snow before moving out on Wednesday, the National Weather Service warns. DePodwin said Chicago could see up 3-6 inches or more, which would be the city's biggest snow event so far this winter.
That storm will bring mostly rain to Washington, but Boston could get 1-3 inches of snow and many areas in between could be dealing with ice, DePodwin said.
Don't delay that return trip from the Super Bowl
DePodwin said Kansas City fans returning from New Orleans won't want to wait until Tuesday to make the trip. Snow could snarl air traffic and also make the drive untenable, he said.
Philadelphia fans heading home should face little more than rain in their city, though some areas between New Orleans and Philadelphia could be icy and treacherous for driving, he said. Still, after a Super Bowl win it's always sunny in Philadelphia.
Another storm lurks next weekend
A third storm could develop across the Central states and sweep east, resulting in another round of harsh weather, AccuWeather said.
The National Weather forecast for Chicago has snow coming Friday night and Saturday. A rain and snow mix is forecast for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Binghamton, New York; and Springfield, Massachusetts; are among cities that could be primary targets for by the end of the week, AccuWeather said. Boston is facing snow Saturday and Sunday.
"We will keep an eye on that storm," DePodwin said. "We could see another blast of Arcitc air across a lot of the country after that."
Southern California bracing for major rains
Another atmospheric river is expected to bring heavy rain to most parts of California this week, raising concerns over flooding after an earlier system broke daily rainfall records, triggered evacuations and led to multiple deaths. The latest bout of rain will set in along the central coast of California and San Francisco Bay area by Tuesday and will continue to ramp up into Wednesday night and Thursday, according to AccuWeather.
"This atmospheric river will bring with it multiple inches of rain from the North Bay Area all the way down the coast to San Diego," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jacob Hinson in an online forecast, adding that most areas will see 1 to 2 inches of rain by Friday. Read more here.
− Christopher Cann