Updated Nov. 26, 2019 3:34 PM
A one-two punch of winter storms in the center of the country will impede travel both before and after the Thanksgiving holiday.
The first storm gathered in the Colorado Rockies Monday night. By Tuesday, much of central and eastern Colorado, as well as southern Wyoming were buried in snow and that storm began to spread snow across the central and northern Plains.
In addition to heavy snow, with totals over a foot in several areas, the storm will be intense enough to stir strong winds.
"The combination of the bursts of snow and the gusting winds will create blizzard conditions," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker said.
The wintry weather will have a big impact on travel ahead of Thanksgiving, including Wednesday, which AAA said is the ‘worst’ travel day for the holiday.
Following the holiday, the same storm that is expected to wreak havoc in the West through Thanksgiving Day will move east into the Rockies and Plains, hitting the same area for those traveling home at the end of the week.
"By Friday morning, the second storm to reach the center of the country will be in Colorado, and moving into western Iowa through Saturday," added Walker.
Enough snow will pile up to have plows out from as far south as Arizona and New Mexico to North Dakota and Minnesota.
Areas hit by the first storm, like the Colorado Rockies, southern Wyoming and western Nebraska, will be left digging out from another snowstorm.
At the same time, the late-week storm may bring snow to some locations that will miss out on the pre-Thanksgiving storm. Parts of North and South Dakota into northern Minnesota are expected to receive more snow the second time around, in addition to gusty winds.
"Blizzard conditions will be possible with this second storm as well," Walker said.
Wind-whipped snow will lead to reduced visibility for those on the roads, as well as create dangerous snowdrifts.
Travel concerns are expected for a vast area. Snow will fall along much of Interstate 25 and 94, as well as portions of interstates 70, 80 and 90. Road conditions will deteriorate as the storm settles into the central United States.
On the southern side of the storm, gusty winds and rain will create even more travel slowdowns from northeastern Texas to southern Wisconsin.
RELATED:
A fresh dose of cold air will filter into the Plains behind the storm. Temperatures are expected to be below normal for the first few days of December.
High winds will accompany the storm, especially on its backside over the central and northern Rockies and adjacent High Plains. Gusts frequenting 60-80 mph are anticipated with the potential for even higher peak gusts.
Download the free AccuWeather app to check the forecast in your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
No comments:
Post a Comment