KEARNEY, Nebraska – Dangerous blizzard conditions stemming from a developing low pressure system are expected to hamper travel along major interstate highways in the central United States for millions of last-minute travelers heading out to the road or take a flight on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
A powerful storm that already caused problems in Southern California and the desert Southwest last week, fueled by an El Niño-charged southern jet stream, is now joining with another storm falling from the Pacific Northwest to create a variety of stunning weather conditions.
While those on the warm side of the storm in the southern plains and along the Gulf Coast will face torrential rain and an isolated threat of flash flooding, the rear of the storm will bring heavy snowfall as a mass of cold air from Canada descends north. US portions
As of Sunday morning, areas of snow over the central Rocky Mountains began to extend northeast into the Central Plains and parts of the Northern Plains, where Blizzard Warnings are now in effect.
What to expect when a massive storm hits the central United States early this week. FOX Weather
As of early Sunday, up to half a foot of snow had already been measured west of Denver, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Up to 8 inches were recorded in Burlington, Colorado, along the state line with Kansas.
While only minor accumulations were reported around the Denver-Boulder area, it was probably a welcome sight with Santa on the way in a matter of hours.
Where are blizzard warnings in effect?
Blizzard warnings have been issued for more than half a million people in southeastern and south-central South Dakota and central and northeastern Nebraska.
Winter storm warnings, winter storm watches and winter weather advisories are in effect for other parts of the region, stretching from parts of Wyoming and Colorado northeastward to parts of western and northern Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota of South and North Dakota.
What is the forecast for Christmas Eve, Christmas and next week?
The complex interaction between the low pressure system, an upper-level drop in the jet stream, and the cold air mass is forecast to push the entire storm system further east into the Mississippi Valley overnight. Christmas Eve, with a more rapid intensification of the storm. A low pressure system is expected to occur over the western part of the Midwest on Christmas Day.
The low pressure system will intensify even more rapidly Christmas night into Tuesday morning, posing a significant threat of strong, gusty winds that will increase and expand across the north-central United States.
With cold air engulfing this increasingly intense storm, the chance for a blizzard continues to increase across the northern and central Plains, with Monday night into Tuesday morning the most likely time for blizzard conditions. Dangerous snow storm.
It has started snowing in Boulder, Co. Twitter / @SchwartzNow
According to the National Weather Service, a blizzard must meet the following criteria to become an official blizzard: sustained winds or frequent gusts of at least 35 mph and a significant fall and/or drift of snow that frequently reduces visibility to a quarter mile or less. both must persist for a period of three hours or more.
More than a foot of snow is expected to overlap with wind gusts up to 50 to 55 mph in areas under Blizzard Warnings, some of which will remain in effect until 6 a.m. CST Wednesday.
“So this is going to be a big concern on parts of (Interstate) 80, I-29 and even near I-90,” FOX Weather meteorologist Craig Herrera said.
Winter weather advisories extend across the central United States. FOX Weather
Freezing rain, sleet could create icy roads from Plains to Minnesota
Additionally, a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain will likely be an issue farther east and northeast, from the northern Plains to Minnesota, from Christmas Day through Tuesday night.
The best chances for ice accumulation appear to be concentrated along Interstate 29 in the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota, where freezing rain is possible beginning Christmas morning.
The threat of freezing rain extends west and north on Christmas night.
“The frost line is very thin, so those of you in eastern Nebraska will have to deal with rain, which will change to snow in the afternoon hours,” Herrera said.
The forecast foresees gusts of wind in the north and center of the Llanos for the time indicated in the upper left. FOX Weather
By Tuesday, a swath of freezing rain with potentially disturbing amounts of ice accumulation could extend from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa to the eastern Dakotas and western and northern Minnesota.
This could disrupt travel in Fargo and Grand Forks in North Dakota, Sioux Falls in South Dakota and Sioux City in Iowa.
“We could have an ice glaze… which can also be very damaging,” Herrera added. “Especially the bridges and overpasses (along) major interstates like I-94, I-90 and I-29; these will be areas to watch if you’re coming home from the holidays.”
What is the timing of this massive storm?
Here are a series of maps highlighting the timing of this massive storm as it moves across the central US over the next few days.
It is already underway in some areas and will continue to create travel impacts in parts of the Plains and Midwest through Wednesday morning.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn