Eastern U.S. Braces for Unrelenting Winter Storms Over Coming Weeks

The eastern United States is set to face multiple winter storms over the coming weeks due to a stable jet stream pattern. The initial storm, starting Wednesday, is predicted to bring hazardous winter weather, particularly ice, from Missouri to Maine. Additional storms are projected for the following week, maintaining the region’s challenging winter weather conditions.

The eastern United States is bracing for a series of intense winter storms expected to persist over the next few weeks. The jet stream is currently aligned to channel storms across the northern regions of the Lower 48 states, forecasting new storm systems every few days until mid-February.

The first significant storm will develop on Wednesday afternoon over the central Mississippi Valley, ultimately affecting over 1,000 miles from Missouri to Maine. This storm is forecasted to bring a dangerous mix of sleet, freezing rain, snow, and rain, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast through Thursday.

The most considerable threat of hazardous ice accumulating is anticipated, with major impacts across a region from Missouri to southern New England, posing risks of power outages and hazardous travel conditions. Central and southern Pennsylvania, and parts of Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia may see accumulations over 0.25 inches of ice, which could heavily burden trees and power lines.

While snowfall will be limited, the storm will deliver a mixed bag of winter precipitation types. For example, in Chicago, freezing rain is expected to start Wednesday evening, transitioning into early Thursday. Cleveland is likely to experience similar conditions, with the potential for precipitation to end as rain as temperatures rise above freezing.

Early Thursday morning, the icy mix will spread into the Appalachian regions, covering significant areas of the Northeast as the day progresses. Pennsylvania will experience a substantial icy mix, particularly in the central and southern regions where freezing rain concentrations will be highest.

Warm air following the storm on Thursday will assist in melting some accumulated ice, but as cold air returns, another storm will form in the Plains by late Friday. The anticipated second storm, arriving Saturday into Sunday, may bring a similar mix of winter precipitation, potentially compounding the impact of the first storm.

Forecast models indicate that additional winter storms may persist next week, with significant weather possible on Tuesday and Wednesday. Another widespread storm may follow in mid-February, keeping the region in an active winter weather pattern.

The upcoming winter storms are a result of a stable jet stream that is aligned from west to east, facilitating the movement of storms across the northern United States. This atmospheric condition has triggered predictions of multiple storms bringing a mix of winter precipitation types across the region. Understanding these meteorological factors is essential to grasp how they contribute to the severity and frequency of the storms affecting the eastern U.S.

The eastern United States is facing a protracted spell of winter storms, which could last for several weeks. The formation of several storms, beginning mid-week, will bring hazardous conditions resulting from ice and freezing rain particularly across the Midwest and Northeast. With a possible continuation of this active weather pattern into February, states should be prepared for further winter storm impacts.

Original Source: www.cnn.com