Winter Storm Blanche Spreading Snow and Wind From the Rockies to the Northern Plains

Linda Lam
Published: November 27,2016
Winter Storm Blanche is currently blanketing the mountain West, but will also hammer the northern Plains with snow and wind to start the new week ahead. Blanche will eventually bring wintry weather to the interior Northeast, starting Tuesday.
(MORE: How Winter Storms Are Named)
This winter storm is being caused by a potent southward plunge of the jet stream that is pivoting through the West. The energy associated with that jet-stream dip is spawning an area of surface low pressure in the Plains, where we will see several days of snow and gusty winds. Moisture will also spread well east of that low, producing wintry weather in the interior Northeast.

Current Radar

Various winter storm warnings, winter storm watches and winter weather advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service from Washington state's Olympics and Cascades into the Rockies. The heavily-populated Salt Lake Valley, including Salt Lake City, has been placed under a winter storm warning.
Central and western North Dakota are under a winter storm warning, while adjacent eastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota are under a winter storm watch.
(MORE: Winter Storm Central)

Winter Weather Alerts

As of Sunday, up to 24 inches of snow had been reported in California's Sierra Nevada near the Lake Tahoe area.

View image on Twitter

Follow

NWS Sacramento ✔ @NWSSacramento

Here are some preliminary snow totals from the storm that went through yesterday & overnight. #snow #cawx #Norcal

1:03 PM - 27 Nov 2016

• 30 30 Retweets
• 33

Here's a look at the winter weather we expect from Blanche across the country this week, by region.

More Western Powder Ahead

Here is a general timeline of impacts expected in the West from Blanche through early week.

• Through Sunday Night: Snow blankets the Rockies and Four Corners/Mogollon Rim. A separate system brings more snow to the Cascades.
• ​Monday: A reinforcing shot of cold air and associated weaker storm system will allow more snow to develop by late Monday across much of the Rockies.

Strong winds are also expected in the Rockies and Four Corners through Sunday night, which when combined with falling snow, could lead to dangerous travel conditions in the high country, particularly over passes. Blizzard conditions are possible in parts of southern Wyoming Sunday night into Monday.
(FORECAST: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington | Truckee, California)

Snowfall Forecast

Over a foot of snow is likely in the highest elevations from the Cascades to the Wasatch and Rockies through Monday. Locally up to two feet of snow may accumulate.

While the high country picks up most of the snow, some lower-elevation cities will also see accumulations, including Flagstaff, Arizona, through Sunday night and Salt Lake City Sunday night into Monday. Lake-effect snow could impact the Salt Lake City area late Monday into early Tuesday.
(MORE: 10 Facts About Snow That Might Surprise You)

Northern Plains Snowstorm Ahead

Blanche's surface low-pressure system will pivot northeastward through the Plains Sunday night. Thereafter, it will only move very slowly east into midweek.
Initially, cold air will be a bit lacking, so precipitation Sunday night and early Monday will start as rain or a wintry mix in the northern Plains before changing over to wet snow, possibly becoming heavy in some parts of the Dakotas.

Monday's Forecast

That gyre of strong, surface low pressure could remain parked in place for several days this week near the northern Plains and upper Midwest, wringing out areas of snow, heavy at times, around it.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
For now, the heaviest potential snow accumulations appear to be targeting parts of the Dakotas, where over six inches of snow are possible through the middle of the week ahead. Light to moderate accumulations are expected elsewhere in the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
(FORECAST: Bismarck, North Dakota | Pierre, South Dakota | Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Snowfall Forecast Through Wednesday AM

Strong winds wrapping around this low-pressure gyre in the northern Plains may produce near-blizzard conditions in open country, due to blowing and drifting snow, as well as falling snow, Monday into Tuesday or early Wednesday.
(MORE: Yes, There is a Blizzard Alley)

Wintry Weather in the Interior Northeast

As mentioned before, moisture associated with Blanche will interact with sufficient cold air in the interior Northeast to produce wintry weather starting Tuesday.

Tuesday's Forecast

Parts of northern New York, Vermont and New Hampshire may see icy conditions Tuesday before changing to plain rain.
The most significant snowfall from Blanche in the Northeast will fall in northern Maine. More than six inches, locally up to a foot, may pile up Tuesday-Thursday.

MORE: Winter Storm Argos, November 2016 (PHOTOS)