Into Saturday, the South and Northeast will endure a prolonged pounding of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms from a potent winter storm. As heavy snow falls along the rain's western fringe, blizzard conditions will develop over the eastern Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Valley on Saturday.
A complex storm consisting of two areas of low pressure is the culprit behind the widespread winter weather-related warnings, watches and advisories draped from the Arklatex to the interior Northeast.
The Winter Weather Center is forecasting 6 to 12 inches of snow to fall over the Arklatex and from the Ohio Valley to the St. Lawrence Valley. These places will remain on the cold side of the two lows set to trek from the central Gulf Coast to the Northeast through Saturday night.
Snow amounts will exceed a foot over southeastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Canadian Expert Meteorologist Brett Anderson gives more detailed forecast snow totals for select Canadian cities.
The winter storm's snow will create widespread travel problems, both on the ground and in the air. Students and families getting an early start to their Spring Break or weekend should be prepared for delays or cancellations.
The AccuWeather.com Traffic Report center and the FAA Flight Delay map will have the latest travel information for motorists and airline passengers.
The snow the storm produced in the South Central states, which will come to an end today, created travel headaches on Thursday. As Octavia, Okla., was blanketed by 5 to 6 inches of snow, officials were forced to close a nearby section of Highway 259. Numerous vehicles slid off of the road due to the slick conditions.
Below are other snowfall totals from the storm, as of 5 a.m. EST this morning:
* Lake Kiowa, Texas (Near Gainesville): 9.0 inches
* Viola, Ark.: 8.0 inches
* Fort Worth-Alliance Arpt., Texas: 6.0 inches
* Lane, Okla.: 4.0 inches
* Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Texas: 1.0 inch
The second low to emerge from the central Gulf Coast will prove to be the most potent. As the low intensifies on Saturday, blizzard conditions will rage across the eastern Great Lakes. The St. Lawrence Valley will have to endure the fierce weather at night.
Travel, both by vehicles and foot, will become dangerous during the blizzard. Strong winds will significantly blow and drift the storm's snow, resulting in extremely low visibility.
According to the East Regional News story, the storm's heaviest snow will bypass the Northeast. An intrusion of warm air will cause ice to mix with the snow near the Canadian border. The ice will limit snow totals, but will still create treacherous travel.
The remainder of the Northeast will receive a soaking rain from the complex winter storm. The rain will come in two batches, one with each low. As incoming colder air follows the storm, the second shot of rain will end as snow over the interior on Saturday afternoon and night.
Residents of the Northeast are being warned that flooding problems will arise not only since the rain will pour down heavy at times, but also because rivers are running high and the ground is already saturated. Flood Watches and Warnings have been posted.
The threat for flooding will exist near both small streams and large rivers, as well as in poor drainage areas. To avoid a potentially deadly situation, motorists should never drive through roads inundated with water. Parents are urged to keep children and pets away from raging waterways.
The rain across the mid-Atlantic coast will be accompanied by locally severe thunderstorms on Saturday. The threat for severe weather will first lie over the Gulf and Southeast coasts today into tonight. The South Regional News story states the remainder of the South will welcome much needed rain.
The Severe Weather Center reports the strongest thunderstorms will produce damaging winds, hail and drenching downpours. A few dangerous tornadoes could also spawn. Storm-related watches and warnings should not be taken lightly.
On Thursday, severe weather ignited along the western Gulf Coast as the winter storm got underway. In the city limits of Corpus Christi, Texas, an EF-1 tornado touched down. The twister traveled about a quarter of a mile, damaging several homes. Nearby, a strong thunderstorm dropped marble-sized hail and heavy downpours on Victoria. Cars stalled in flooded underpasses and low-lying areas throughout the city.
Source: By AccuWeather News Release
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