Winter Storm Possible From Rockies to Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes For First Week of Spring

Chris Dolce
Published: March 20,2016
A new winter storm is likely to spread a swath of snow from the Rockies to the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and even parts of the Northeast for the first full week of spring. This system has the potential to be designated the next named winter storm, which would be Selene.
(MORE: Science Behind Naming Winter Storms)
The instigator for this early-spring winter storm is upper-level energy accompanying a southward dip in the jet stream that will push into the Northwest late Monday through Tuesday. Snow is likely in the West from the Cascades and the northern Sierra Nevada to the Rockies as the energy moves through.

Snow Setup This Week

That energy will then help to spawn an area of low pressure near the earth's surface that will track from the High Plains to mid-Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes later Tuesday through Thursday. To the north of where that low tracks is where conditions should be cold enough for accumulating snow thanks to cold air supplied from high pressure to the north.
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain will be possible on the southern side of the storm system. See the link below for more details on the severe threat.
(MORE: Severe Weather Threat This Week?)

Next Winter Storm Accumulating Snow Potential

Although we are confident that we will see a west-to-east oriented band of accumulating snow, the details on what cities and states (or parts of states) will be impacted by the heaviest amounts are uncertain. This is due to uncertainty with the forecast track of the aforementioned low pressure system.
Specifically, the latitude at which the low tracks as it moves through the Midwest from west-to-east will ultimately determine the areas that see most significant snow.
For now, this map shows locations that could see accumulating snow through Thursday shaded in white. Additional detail will be added to this map in the next day or so to illustrate what areas will see the heaviest snow once the exact track of the low pressure system becomes more clear.

Potential Accumulating Snow Swath

Gusty winds will also accompany the snow in some areas, leading to reduced visibility and treacherous travel conditions. This could potentially impact stretches of Interstates 80, 90, 25, 29 and 35, among others.
Cities that could see accumulating snow include:
Rockies/Plains: Butte, Montana | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Denver | North Platte, Nebraska | Rapid City, South Dakota
Upper Midwest/Great Lakes: Des Moines, Iowa | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Milwaukee | Minneapolis
It's not unusual to see snow after the spring equinox in many of the areas that could see accumulating snow this week. For example, Minneapolis-St. Paul averages about 5 inches of snow annually from March 21 through April. For parts of the northern/central Rockies and the adjacent High Plains, April is actually the snowiest month of the year, on average.
(MORE: What is Your Snowiest Month?)

Winter Storm Timing

Tuesday:

• Daytime: Snow is expected from the Cascades and the northern Sierra Nevada into the northern and central Rockies. Snow levels will fall to valley floors in some locations
• Night: The northern and central Rockies will continue to see snow, while snow tapers off or ends in the Cascades and northern Sierra. Rain changing to snow also spreads into the High Plains, including eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota and western Nebraska.

Tuesday's Forecast

Wednesday: 

• A long swath of states from Wyoming and Colorado to Michigan could see snow or a rain/snow mix changing to all snow.
• Some snow or a mixture of rain and snow may spread as far east as New York and New England by Wednesday night.
• Gusty winds may accompany the snow leading to reduced visibility and treacherous travel conditions in Midwest and Plains.

Wednesday's Forecast

Thursday:

• Snow or a rain/snow mixture is expected from the upper Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes and into Upstate New York and New England.
• Strong winds will continue to cause reduced visibility and hazardous travel conditions to the north and northwest of where the low tracks in the Midwest.
• Wintry weather may linger in northern New England into next Friday.

Thursday's Forecast

MORE: Photos From Winter Storm Regis