Spring Snow Underway in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest (FORECAST}

Linda Lam
Published: March 22,2015



 
The first week of spring will bring a taste of winter to parts of the northern Plains and Midwest from two separate snowmakers.
Below is a look at our current forecast for both of these systems.

System #1: Overnight - Monday

Snowfall Forecast

Midwest Radar and Current Conditions

Overnight into Monday, a clipper system will continue to move through the northern Plains and Midwest. As it does so, the system will strengthen and an area of low pressure will develop. This system is spreading a narrow but significant streak of moderate to locally heavy snow from North Dakota to south-central and southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, southern Wisconsin as well as northern Illinois.
(FORECAST: Fargo | Minneapolis | Chicago)
A narrow swath of 3-6 inches of snow (locally 6+ inches) is possible with this clipper. The heaviest accumulations will now likely stay south of Minneapolis. Light to moderate snow will move into the Chicago metro area for the Monday morning commute with 1-3 inches of accumulation.
Already, significant snowfall totals have accumulated due to this system:

• 7.5 inches near Lakeville, Minnesota
• 7 inches at Prior Lake, Minnesota
• 7 inches at Woodman, Wisconsin
• 5.5 inches near Elon, Iowa
• 4 inches in Belmont, Wisconsin
• 0.2 inches at Chicago O'Hare Aiprort

Travel will likely be impacted by accumulating snow and poor visibility through early Monday, including portions of I-35, I-94 and I-90. Visibility could drop very quickly in a short period of time due to localized pockets of heavy snow.

System #2: Sunday Overnight - Wednesday

Sunday overnight through Monday, a separate system will move into the Pacific Northwest. As it continues to move east through the northern Plains the system will strengthen and an area of low pressure will develop. Many areas will see a mix of rain and snow as there is a lack of deep cold air in the northern Plains.
This system will then move into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region by midweek.
Parts of Upstate New York and New England may also see a mix of rain and snow as the low pressure system continues to slide eastward late week.
(MORE: More Cold Air For the East)
Moisture will stream northward and where it meets cold air, with temperatures near to below freezing, snow and sleet may develop.
Early in the week, accumulating snow will coat the higher elevations of the northern Rockies, including the Cascades, Bitterroots, and the Tetons. Accumulating snow is also likely Tuesday through Thursday in North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan.
The cold front associated with this area of low pressure will stretch through the mid-Mississippi Valley and into the southern Plains. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop along the cold front as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is drawn northward and a few thunderstorms will likely be strong to severe, especially in portions of the Plains and Midwest Monday through Wednesday.
(MORE: Severe Weather Forecast)
There are differences in the computer forecast models as far as track, timing and strength as it is still a few days away. Below you will find our current forecast.

Wintry Timing

Tuesday Night Forecast

Wednesday's Forecast

Monday: Rain and mountain snow will spread across the Pacific Northwest and into parts of the Rockies.
(FORECAST: Spokane, Washington | Glacier National Park)
Tuesday: A mix of rain and snow will move into the northern Plains. Rain will change to snow in North Dakota Tuesday night. Snow, sleet and rain will also stretch into Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as well as northern Lower Michigan.
(FORECAST: Minot, North Dakota | International Falls, Minnesota)
Wednesday: Light snow will continue from North Dakota into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Some rain and snow is also possible in parts of Upstate New York and northern New England.
(FORECAST: Duluth, Minnesota | Marquette, Michigan)
Thursday: Snow showers will linger in portions of the Great Lakes and northern New England.
(FORECAST: Traverse City, Michigan | Caribou, Maine)
It is too early to know how much snow will fall and there may be changes to the track of the system so check back with weather.com and The Weather Channel for the latest on the possible next winter storm.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

Upper Midwest Snowfall Deficit

Many of the locations that may see accumulating snow next week have been experiencing a snow drought so far this winter.
A snowfall deficit has been seen in many places in the northern Plains this winter while parts of the Northeast have been buried in snow. This is due to the persistent pattern of the jet stream this winter which kept the West dry and warmer than average while the East saw colder and snowier conditions.
(MORE: America's Best and Worst Winter Cities)

Snowfall Deficits

Snow does still fall in the spring in the northern Plains so the season is not over yet but through March 21 here are a few locations that are well below average for snowfall:
Fargo, North Dakota: 29.3 inches below average
Duluth, Minnesota: 29.7 inches below average
Grand Forks, North Dakota: 26.6 inches below average
Minneapolis, Minnesota: 22.5 inches below average
Green Bay, Wisconsin: 16.6 inches below average
One of the side effects of the lack of snow is that parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest and now experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions. Minneapolis has not received more than a trace of rain or snow from March 3 through March 21.
MORE: Winter Storm Ultima

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