Snow, Rain and Storms Target Rockies, Plains

UPDATED 5:15 PM MDT, October 3,2013

UPDATED By WeatherBug Sr. Meteorologists, John Bateman and James West

 

 

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A complex autumn storm moving into the Plains today will bring heavy snow to the Rockies and severe thunderstorms to the Missouri Valley. Heavy rain will strike a large portion of the Plains over the next couple days.

A strong cold front pushing across the High Plains is forming the boundary between warm and humid to the east and cold, Canadian air to the west. Gulf of Mexico moisture is streaming northward toward the cold front and a developing area of low pressure, acting as the fuel to develop a highly volatile weather situation.

The first result of this storm will be heavy snow, which will fall across the higher terrain of Montana, northern Wyoming, and western South Dakota. Snowfall rates of 1-to-2 inches per hour could lead to significant snowfall along the Interstate 25, 94 and 90 corridors of Montana and Wyoming.

Winter Storm Warnings and Watches along with Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for portions of southern Montana, most of Wyoming, western South Dakota, southwestern North Dakota, western Nebraska, central Colorado, as well as for locations in Idaho, Oregon, and eastern Utah.

Totals will be locally as high as 18-to-24 inches across the higher elevations of Wyoming, and 6-to-10 inches in the lower elevations. Similar totals are expected in southern Montana.

The heavy, wet nature of the snow could cause branches and trees to break onto power lines, causing widespread power outages. Winds gusting as high as 40-50 mph may produce blizzard conditions and treacherous driving. Due to this hazard, Blizzard Warnings are in effect for western South Dakota, including Rapid City, for Friday and Saturday. Residents should be prepared with blankets, non-perishable food, and flashlights. Drivers should be prepared for road closures and should make sure that they have chains packed.

In the warm air bubbling south and east of the front, severe thunderstorms are expected to crash the central Plains and Mid-Missouri Valley. The combination of warm and humid air and racing winds aloft could lead to 60-to-70 mph winds, golf ball-to-baseball-sized hail, and even a few tornadoes. These storms are expected along the Interstate 80 corridor of Nebraska and Iowa, targeting cities such as Omaha, Neb., and Des Moines, Iowa.

The storm threat will expand on Friday as the cold front becomes better organized. Severe thunderstorms are expected once again from Minnesota and Wisconsin all the way across the central Plains to Oklahoma. This will include Minneapolis, Des Moines, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., Topeka, Kan., and the western suburbs of Oklahoma City. As of now, the highest risk for severe weather will be across central Iowa and southern Minnesota, where a Moderate Risk for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes is in effect.

Check back often with WeatherBug for the latest on this complex weather situation. Be sure to keep WeatherBug active to receive the latest weather in your neighborhood and get the latest updates anywhere on Twitter.