It's Spring? April to Begin with Snow, Cold Temperatures in Great Lakes and Northeast

Chris Dolce
Published: March 31,2016
Much colder temperatures are set to infiltrate the Great Lakes and Northeast this weekend into early next week, setting the stage for snow in parts of those regions. This rather rude start to April follows what has been a relatively mild March in much of the central and eastern states.
The return to a regime more typical of winter is due to an incoming surge of arctic air that will push southward through central and eastern Canada and into adjacent parts of the northern United States. Fast-moving low pressure systems, known as clippers, will have just enough moisture to produce snow in locations where cold air is sufficient.
(VIDEO: What is a Clipper?)

Cold, Snowy Start to April

Below are the forecast details on cold temperatures followed by an overview of the snowfall potential.

Cold Temperatures Incoming

The latest forecast guidance suggests this invasion of colder temperatures will not make it very far south in the eastern states. Areas closest to the Canadian border from the Great Lakes into the Northeast are currently forecast to see temperatures the farthest below average Saturday into early next week.
(MAP: 10-day forecast)
The colder-than-average temperatures will first make their presence known in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures will be 10 to 25 degrees below where they are typically expected to be for the beginning of April in this area starting this weekend and lingering into early next week.
Highs will likely top out in the 30s and 40s for much of the Northeast and Great Lakes. Some locations near the Canadian border may not rise out of the 20s.
(FORECASTS: Green Bay | Cleveland | Boston)

Forecast Highs

Low temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s for much of the Upper Midwest and interior Northeast, with teens likely near the Canadian border from northern Minnesota to northern New England.
Wind chills Sunday morning may be in the single digits and teens across most of the Great Lakes. By Monday morning a swath from the Great Lakes to New England could see wind chills in the single digits and teens.

Forecast AM Lows

Clippers to Bring Snow

With the cold air in place, two rounds of snow are possible in parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast this weekend into early next week as a duo of low pressure systems pass through. A third system could bring even more wintry weather to those regions during the middle part of next week, but details are uncertain.
Here's an overview for the first two systems.
System #1:

• Friday night - Saturday: Mainly light snow moves from northern Minnesota to northern Wisconsin and Michigan.
• Saturday night: The area of low pressure pushes toward New England with snow or a rain/snow mixture expected from the mountains of West Virginia to Pennsylvania, New York and New England.
• Sunday: Snow continues in eastern and northern New England during the morning.
• Accumulations: Mainly light snowfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected from northern Minnesota to northern Wisconsin, northern Michigan, northern Pennsylvania, Upstate New York and New England.

Saturday's Forecast

Sunday's Forecast

System #2:

• A second area of low pressure will dive south into the Upper Midwest Sunday and then pivot through the Great Lakes and Northeast Monday into Tuesday.
• Though details are uncertain, some accumulating snow is possible along the path of this system from northeast Minnesota to northern Michigan, northern Pennsylvania, Upstate New York and New England.
• Below are the latest forecast maps showing areas that could see snow Monday into Monday night, though keep in mind this forecast is subject to change in the days ahead.

Monday's Forecast

Monday Night's Forecast

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