WeatherFanatics: Clipper System to Bring Burst of Snow and Delays for Chicago, Detroit

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Clipper System to Bring Burst of Snow and Delays for Chicago, Detroit

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

January 3,2015; 11:04PM,EST

A fast-moving clipper system will sweep across the northern Plains to the Northeast early next week, leaving behind a swath of snow and travel delays.
A quick burst of snow will target several major cities as the storm sweeps east Monday night through Tuesday.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; Madison, Wisconsin; Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit, Michigan will be under the threat for snow during this time period.

Folks can expect a quick burst of snow with this system that will lower visibility to dangerous levels. Road conditions will likely go from clear to snow covered in a short amount of time.
Interstates 29, 35, 80, and 90 are just some of the roadways that could face slow travel and poor road conditions. Motorists are urged to slow down or even pull off for a time if faced with white-out conditions. Delays at some of the major hubs can be expected as well.
The fast-moving nature of the system will be one factor in reducing snowfall amounts, keeping most locations in the 1- to 3-inch range. However, cold air and a band of heavier snow will bring more to some.
"Some locations in a narrow band along and to the north of the track of the clipper could receive as much as 6 inches of fluffy snow," said Meteorologist Brian Edwards.

"The heaviest snow looks to fall from Omaha and Des Moines Monday to Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland Monday night," continued Edwards.
Tuesday will likely be a snowy day for the Northeast as this system continues to bolt east, impacting Pittsburgh, Scranton and Allentown.
Several inches are possible across Pennsylvania to southern New England. Interstate 95 will be at risk for delays from Boston to Philadelphia.
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"New York City, Hartford and Boston could also pick up enough snow to cause travel problems later Tuesday and Tuesday night," said Edwards.
Frigid temperatures will already be in place when the storm sweeps through but a shot of reinforcing cold will follow.
High temperatures will be in the teens and single digits Tuesday across the Plains and Midwest but another shot of brutally cold air will keep highs from reaching above zero for many on Wednesday.