Could it be that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, or are we in for an early spring? The second storm system is set to take shape over the Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, intensify by Thursday, and spread across the Great Lakes and interior Northeast. Depending on the freezing line’s location, significant ice accumulation may impact areas of the region before the system moves offshore.
However, the most significant storm that the FOX Forecast Center is keeping tabs on in the medium to long term seems poised to develop late next weekend. This storm could bring colder air, potentially pushing the freezing line further south than in previous events. As a result, heavy snowfall is likely to blanket major cities across the Ohio Valley, Northeast, and New England.
While exact snowfall amounts are still subject to fine-tuning, forecast models generally indicate a range of 4-8 inches across the Ohio Valley. Some cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, could possibly see double-digit snow totals from the storm systems expected to impact the region from Monday, Feb. 10 to Monday, Feb. 17.
South of the freezing line is where the most substantial rainfall is anticipated. From the southern Tennessee Valley through the northern Gulf Coast, a widespread area of 5-9 inches of rainfall is expected, likely triggering flash flooding.
In addition to the precipitation behind the frontal boundary, arctic air is poised to surge southward, causing temperatures to plummet from 10 to 20 degrees below average, even as far south as the Gulf Coast. Residents will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on the cold weather’s impact on crops in the South, with many already in the spring leaf-out process and producing pollen ahead of the official meteorological spring start.
Meanwhile, much of the Southwest seems to be shielded from the wintry weather episodes. During similar patterns over the winter when the East has cooled, the West, particularly California, has experienced a surge in gusty winds and heightened fire activity.
The country’s active weather pattern is expected to persist throughout most of the month, with no respite in sight for the nation’s heartland through to the East Coast.
