The country is expected to be hit by a string of storms this week with warnings for the winter weather in effect on Monday for 60 million people in 23 states, stretching from Southern California to the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
Heavy snow is expected to fall Monday from the Central Plains to the Midwest and Great Lakes where cities like Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and especially Chicago could see their biggest snowstorm of the season.
Avalanches, which are sometimes expected to be 2 centimeters per hour, are likely to cause treacherous travel conditions and the risk of power outages.
For the Chicago area, heavy snow around Monday night’s peak capacity can also be met by the shores of Lake Michigan. Strong winds across the Great Lakes are expected to kick up big waves and cause flooding. Before Lake Michigan, forecasts required waves of 10 to 13 feet, causing the risk of water splashing on Lake Shore Drive, as well as nearby parks and parking lots.
On the south side of the system, strong storms that could damage winds and isolated tornadoes were forecast until Monday night in the Tennessee Valley, including Memphis and Nashville.
A wintry mix will also move into parts of the Mid-Atlantic Monday afternoon until Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, snow will move from the Great Lakes in the northeast while showers and storms linger in the southeast.
While the forecast mostly requires snow in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions, it is a more difficult forecast for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. By the time the storm moves east, it will encounter some warm air, which will produce a myriad of precipitation, from rain to icy rain to snow and sleet. This winter mixture means lower snow totals and more likely slippery conditions.
Rainfall of 1-3 centimeters will fall along the road of the storm, along with 6-12 centimeters of snow over parts of the Plains, Midwest and Northern New England.
For Chicago, 5-10 inches of snow is forecast, with larger amounts possible. East Coast cities like Washington and New York can detect up to 2 inches of sludge.
As this first storm leaves Tuesday, another storm system will form along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday and possibly move along the coast. There is great uncertainty with this system, but by Thursday it could bring a round of rain, snow and winter-like mixtures in parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Oceans.
In addition, the West Coast also remains in a very active pattern with constant rounds of Pacific storms.
At least three more storms this week will bring heavy rain and snow from the Pacific Northwest to California, east into the desert, southwest and the Four Corners region.
Up to 3 centimeters of rain is forecast along the coastal areas, with local amounts possible.
Over parts of the Sierra and Arizona mountains up to 30 centimeters of snow is possible, which will provide the drought-stricken welcome relief.