Rain and Snow Will Target Central and Eastern U.S. Late Week

Linda Lam
Published: January 4,2016
Rain and snow will return to the central and eastern U.S. later this week as a storm system develops east of the Rockies and pushes northeastward into the weekend.
A series of systems is impacting the West this week with rain and snow. Two of these disturbances will combine to bring rain and snow back to the Plains, Midwest, South and Northeast during the second half of this week.
(MORE: Series of Storms in the West This Week)
The northern side of this system will bring a swath of snow from the Front Range into the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest. A wintry mix will also develop on the southern edge.
Rain and a few thunderstorms will be found farther south from the central and southern Plains to the East Coast. The good news is widespread heavy rain is not currently expected. However, any rainfall over the areas hit by recent flooding will not be welcomed.

Snowy Side

Storm begins to develop Wednesday and Thursday in the Plains.

Snow showers will begin to develop on Wednesday from western Iowa into eastern South Dakota, Minnesota and western Wisconsin. This is a result of an area of low pressure that will begin to develop as it moves east of the Rockies.
Snow will become more widespread from the Front Range through the central and northern Plains and into Minnesota, central Wisconsin and northern Michigan by Thursday night. A mix of rain, snow and sleet is possible from northern Iowa into southeastern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin and portions of Michigan.
(FORECAST: Denver | Minneapolis | Des Moines)
Snow will persist through much of Friday from the central Plains into the northern Great Lakes.
Wintry conditions may reach portions of the Northeast although milder air in the East will keep the rain/snow line far to the north.
By Friday night, snow is likely in parts of Upstate New York and northern New England, while a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will stretch from northern Pennsylvania into New York and portions of western New England. Northern New England will continue to find wintry conditions through Sunday.
(FORECAST: Albany | Burlington, Vermont | Portland, Maine)
Accumulating snow is likely from the Denver area into the Upper Midwest with several inches of snow possible. The highest snowfall totals will likely be in central Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A few inches of snow may also pile up in northern New England.

Wednesday's Forecast

Wednesday's Forecast

Showers will begin to return to the southern Plains by Wednesday as southerly winds will draw moisture northward ahead of the next disturbance.
The chance of showers may reach as far north as northern Missouri. Rainfall is expected to be generally light, although locally heavy rain may occur during thunderstorms that may develop along the Texas coast.
(FORECAST: Dallas | Corpus Christi | Kansas City)
An isolated severe thunderstorm also cannot be ruled out in upper-coastal Texas Wednesday and Wednesday night.
As mentioned above, snow showers are likely in portions of the Upper Midwest.

Thursday's Forecast

Thursday's Forecast

The risk of rain will slide eastwards on Thursday, stretching from the central Plains into the Mississippi Valley. Rainfall total in most locations will be under an inch, but any rainfall in areas that have recently or are still experiencing river flooding is not good news.
(MORE: River Flooding To Continue Into Mid-January)
Rain will continue to spread east into the Southeast and Ohio Valley Thursday night.
There is also the chance of an isolated severe thunderstorm in extreme east Texas, Louisiana, and southern Mississippi.
(FORECAST: St. Louis | New Orleans | Atlanta)
Snow will accumulate on the cold side of this system with snow from Denver to Minneapolis and into northern Michigan.

Friday and Into the Weekend

Friday's Forecast

Wet conditions will reach the East Coast by Friday, with rain showers lingering as far west as eastern Kansas.
Much of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest will continue to see showers into the weekend as this system slowly tracks eastward. Wintry conditions will remain confined to the north with snow showers in the northern Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley.
Another system will bring a second round of rain that will move through the South over the weekend. This disturbance will then bring rain into the Northeast on Sunday, with snow and ice possible in northern New York and northern New England.
(FORECAST: Raleigh | Cleveland | Boston)

Late Week Forecast

Rumbles of thunder may also occur in parts of the South through the weekend. An isolated severe thunderstorm could develop in eastern North Carolina on Friday. On Saturday, the risk of an isolated severe thunderstorm will be found from southeast Texas into southern Mississippi.
PHOTOS: Winter Storm Goliath