A complex storm system will be moving across the country over the next few days. It already has brought snow to parts of the Rockies and the upper Midwest over the past 24 hours, and will bring rain, snow, ice and potentially severe weather to much of the eastern half of the nation over the next few days. Lets dive right in!
The Rain
We’ll be watching the potential of heavy rain over the next day or so from parts of Arkansas up through Kentucky. Some of these areas could see up to 2.5″ of rain before they change all over to wintery precipitation Wednesday. Flood Watches are in effect this morning from Nashville, TN, up through Pittsburgh, PA.
[Map: Latest Watches, Warnings, and Advisories]
The Snow
Winter Weather Headlines as of 9 AM ET Tuesday, March 3, 2015.
Over 134 million Americans were under some sort of a winter advisory this morning, with Winter Weather Advisories stretching from Idaho into the Northeast, and Winter Storm Warnings as far south as Arkansas.
NWS forecast snow from Tuesday morning through Thursday evening. Image: WeatherBell
And some areas could get walloped by snow over the next few days – with 6″ or more of snow possible from the Missouri Bootheel into parts of the Northeast, including New York City and Boston. Speaking of Boston, you are now up to 104.1″ of snow this winter season, only 3.6″ away from breaking the record snowiest season back in 1995-96. There is a good chance that record could be approached in the next few days.
[Forecast: New York City – Boston – Charleston, WV]
Some of the heaviest snow could fall Wednesday and Wednesday Night from Oklahoma into the Northeast. What you are looking at above is the probability of snow totals greater than 4″ for Wednesday/Wednesday Night – blue is at least a 10% probability of occurring, green 40%, and red 70%. We expect a good shot of 4″ of snow from Kentucky to just south of Pittsburgh tomorrow/tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, some of that area has at least a 10% chance of over a foot of snow tomorrow & tomorrow night, from Louisville to just south of Pittsburgh.
This graphic from the National Weather Service in Louisville shows the top daily March snowfalls for some of their forecast cities, and there is the chance they could try and approach the top 5 Wednesday or Thursday.
[Forecast: Louisville]
The Ice
Here’s the probability of seeing at least 0.01″ of ice through Wednesday morning. Already freezing rain has been reported in Indianapolis this morning.
The chance of ice moves south on Wednesday, where Little Rock could see up to a quarter inch of ice, and Dallas could pick up on a wintry mix during the day.
[Forecast: Indianapolis – Little Rock – Dallas]
Severe Threat
We are also watching the potential of severe weather Wednesday from Louisiana into Mississippi and Alabama. Damaging wind gusts would be the main threat.
[Track Precipitation: Interactive Radar]
A busy next few days weatherwise across much of the nation. Stay with Aeris Weather for the latest – on Facebook and Twitter.
Meteorologist D.J. Kayser
Find me on Twitter (@dkayserwx) or on Facebook (Meteorologist D.J. Kayser)