By Courtney Spamer,
The storm recently responsible for heavy rain in the Northwest will take aim at the northern Rockies. However the storm will not only bring the first snowfall of the season to parts of South Dakota and Nebraska, but also the potential for a major storm.
Dry, tranquil weather over the Central states now will not hold through the end of the week.
A push of cold air from Canada colliding with warmth and moisture will bring snow, rain and perhaps a severe weather outbreak.
@HenryMargusity tweeted: “The storm in the northern Plains Fri/Sat could have winds up to 60 mph and heavy rains, Severe weather will be in the Midwest.”More Relevant Tweets and Social Media Reaction
Cold air will wrap in behind the reorganizing storm across Montana, Wyoming and northern Colorado. The snow will fall on some areas hit by heavysnow last week and will reach some location hit by flooding earlier during September.
Heavy snowfall may be not limited to the higher elevations but could reach lower elevations in the region and spread onto parts of the neighboring Plains.
The storm will strengthen greatly over the northern Plains. As this happens, rain will become mixed with and change to snow in some locations.
Heavy snow could fall with gusty winds, from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Accumulating snow could reach as far to the east as central South Dakota and southeast into central Nebraska.
Travel along I-90 in South Dakota could be difficult late in the week if the storm develops to its full potential. A long stretch of I-25 in Wyoming and northern Colorado could be a slow go with snow and slush. Difficult travel is likely along I-80 through much of Wyoming.
According to AccuWeather.com Winter Weather Expert Brian Wimer, “It would have to snow very hard over the northern Plains, away from the hills and mountains for an accumulations, but there is a chance of that at this point.”
Accumulating snow may reach just north and west of Denver, Colo. Snow is likely in Cheyenne, Wyo. Heavy snow could clobber Valentine, Neb.
While it may be just a tad too warm for an all out major snowstorm in areas farther to the east in Nebraska, the Dakotas and Minnesota, snow can mix in at times in these areas Friday night and Saturday.
If even a mere inch of snow falls in northern Minnesota, it would be unusual for the first week in October. The average first measurable snowfall in Duluth, Minn., is not until Oct. 24.
Measurable snow would not be unprecedented, however. The earliest measurable snow for a season in Duluth occurred on Sept. 18, 1991.
Across Colorado, some ski resorts are taking advantage of the cool weather and are already making snow. In preparation for the 2013-14 ski season, Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area plan to make snow for as long as conditions allow, according to a press release by Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA).
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Across southeastern Nebraska, Iowa and southern Wisconsin, the air will be too warm for snow, but powerful thunderstorms are a concern. Gusty winds will also be a factor.
As high pressure builds in the wake of the storm over the West, a Santa Ana event could bring damaging winds and raise the risk of wildfires in Southern California late in the week.
As AccuWeather.com meteorologists predicted earlier this year, the fall season has started off wet in the Pacific Northwest.
Waves of downpours will continue to push into the Pacific Northwest through the middle of the week.
Moisture contributed by Typhoon Pabuk brought flooding rain events to the Northwest this past weekend. In addition to wind gusts in excess of 80 mph, parts of Oregon and Washington have been inundated by more than 4 inches of rain. - AccuWeather
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Storm to Bring First Snow of the Season to Upper Midwest (thesurvivalplaceblog.com)
Powerful Storm to Slam Pacific Northwest With Rain, Wind (thesurvivalplaceblog.com)
