Soaking rain, spotty ice and fog to raise travel delay risk in eastern US early in 2017

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

December 31,2016, 9:21:43PM,EST

 

 

Soon after bringing downpours and thunderstorms to the south and snow to the northern Plains, a storm with rain and spotty ice will take aim at the eastern United States early in 2017.
As some people return from their holiday breaks, travel delays are possible due to rain, fog and a low cloud ceiling overspreading the area from Sunday night to Tuesday.
The first part of the storm the rain will be spotty and light.
There can be spotty ice at the onset in the Northeast during Sunday night and Monday. Air temperatures in some communities will be close to the freezing mark, 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In some cases, the ground will be colder for a time.

Patches of black ice are possible from the central Appalachians to just inland of the mid-Atlantic coast from Sunday night to early Monday morning. The ice threat will then shift northward to northern New York state and northern New England later on Monday into Tuesday morning.
Motorists are urged to use caution, especially over bridges and overpasses along the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania to interior New Jersey, upstate New York and southwestern New England.
Surfaces that were recently treated with ice-melting compounds will be wet.
Milder air with drenching rain will accompany the main part of the storm on Tuesday.
The rain will spread northeastward from the Ohio Valley and Southern states as millions of people head back to work and school.

While excessive rainfall is not anticipated, enough rain can fall to cause travel delays. Where there is substantial snow on the ground, minor urban flooding can occur.
Anytime mild air flows over cold ground and/or snow cover, there is the risk of fog formation, which could slow travel on the highways.
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AccuWeather Winter Weather Center
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Even in the absence of widespread fog, a low cloud ceiling at some of the major airport hubs from Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., to Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston could lead to airline delays.
The rain will reach well into ski country of northern New England with this storm. Not enough rain will fall to melt all of the snow, however. A major storm brought up to 2 feet of snow this past week.

A weaker storm is set to bring up to a few inches of snow during the first part of this weekend.

Snowstorm may unfold from Colorado to Wisconsin early next week

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

December 31,2016, 11:32:00PM,EST

Disruptive snow will expand over the north-central United States from Sunday night into Tuesday.

Some areas that are still digging out from the Christmas Day blizzard may be in the crosshairs of the impending snowstorm during the first days of 2017.
After unleashing frigid air and snow across the West, a storm will emerge over the Rockies and rapidly strengthen.
“The best areas for accumulating snow will be from the Dakotas to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said.

The snow could be heavy enough to shovel and plow in these areas.
The exact track of the storm will determine where the heaviest snow sets up. Under the bullseye of heavy snow, snowfall totals will reach 6 to 12 inches.
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The initial coating of snow will cause slippery travel on area roadways. Roads could quickly become snow packed as the snow intensifies.
Travel could become dangerous along parts of interstates 29, 35, 90 and 94 as the snow spreads eastward. Those who are traveling home from New Year’s destinations should use caution.

Increasing winds will threaten to cause areas of blowing and drifting snow and poor visibility in parts of the northern Plains.
Mild air shooting northward ahead of the storm will allow for all rain from Chicago to Detroit on Monday. This includes in St. Louis, where mild and wet conditions could disrupt the 2017 NHL Winter Classic.
“However, the return of colder air may produce a brief period of snow across Chicago and Detroit on Tuesday or Tuesday night,” Rathbun said.
Arctic air will then sweep south and eastward across much of the Lower 48 from the middle to the latter half of the week.

New Year’s snowstorm to usher in coldest air since 2014 across parts of northwestern US

By Jordan Root, AccuWeather meteorologist

December 31,2016, 11:34:54PM,EST

 

 Arctic air will plunge into the Northwest over the next few days and bring a frigid and snowy start to 2017.

A snowstorm will precede and accompany the arctic surge and create slippery travel over much of the region from New Year's Day to Monday. A mix of rain and snow is forecast along the immediate coast at sea level.
Some rain and snow will fall around Seattle and Portland, Oregon, through New Year’s Day. Hilly areas around Seattle and outlying higher elevations around Portland can pick up a couple inches of snow. Most of the snow accumulation will be on non-paved surfaces. However, some bridges and overpasses could get slippery, especially as temperatures plummet toward the end of the storm.

"This will be the first storm with wintry precipitation in the Seattle and Portland areas spanning New Year's Eve and New Year's Day since Dec. 31, 2003 and Jan. 1, 2004," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. "That storm brought about 4 inches of snow to that part of the Interstate 5 corridor."
While there can be light accumulations around Seattle and Portland, the best chance for heavy snow will be focused across the Cascades where 6 to 12 inches will fall. Heavy snow will also fall across the Bitterroots.
Travel along I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge and I-90 through the Cascades on east can be treacherous for a time on Sunday.

While only a small amount of snow will fall at low elevations in this area, untreated wet highways, streets and sidewalks can turn icy as temperatures plunge with the push of arctic air. Major cities over the interior Northwest to be affected by the snow and freeze-up include Spokane, Washington, Pendleton, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho.
The swath of rain and snow will spread farther south and east Sunday night and Monday. Salt Lake City will endure snowy conditions during this time with travel being impacted. Snow will spread into the northern Sierra as well where a foot of snow may pile up.
Arctic air will pour into much of the West during the first week of the new year.
Daytime temperatures will generally range between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit below normal for a few days, although in some areas, temperatures may fall up to 30 degrees below normal.
Some cities may come close to tying or even breaking low temperature records. The coldest air will be in place between Monday and Wednesday.

Cities such as Seattle and Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Missoula and Great Falls, Montana; will all face the cold next week.
An easterly wind through the Columbia Gorge will funnel the arctic air into Portland Monday through Wednesday.
“Portland will endure several days with high temperatures in the 20s to near 30 next week,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
Overnight lows in Portland will rival records this week as temperatures dip into the teens through Wednesday night. This will be some of the coldest air felt since February of 2014.
Boise, Idaho, may also approach records on a couple of nights next week as temperatures sink well below zero.
Those heading outside may want to consider putting on extra layers.
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An Arctic high pressure system remain in control across the Northwest through most of the week and will keep the region dry. However, the cold air will keep a firm grip on the region.
“The Northwest looks to remain colder than normal right into the first weekend of the new year,” Pydynowski said.
The cold air may even make it as far south as Las Vegas by the end of the week, bringing temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below normal.

 

Germany: New year to bring unsettled weather

By Jordan Root, AccuWeather meteorologist

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

December 31,2016, 6:37:48PM,EST

 

 

A pattern change will bring a turn to more unsettled weather across Germany as 2017 kicks off.
A persistent area of high pressure over the region will begin to weaken and move away through the weekend, allowing more seasonable air to seep in from the north.
From Christmas weekend to the first half of this week, high temperatures were largely 4 to 8 C (10 to 15 F) above normal across most of Germany, including in Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg.
High temperatures this weekend will generally range from 2 to 7 C (35 to 44 F). However, temperatures will struggle or fail to reach freezing where dense fog from the morning lingers into the afternoon. The central and southern valleys are most prone for the stubborn fog and resulted reduced visibility, slick spots and chilly air.
The high pressure should hold on long enough to keep most of Germany dry heading into Sunday.

“New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day look to be largely dry across Germany, which will work out well for those partaking in celebrations,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
While 2016 will end on a dry note, a period of unsettled weather is expected to move in for the first couple of days and nights of 2017.
“A cold front will dive in from the north late Sunday and will bring a few showers lasting into Monday,” Pydynowski said.
RELATED LINKS:
Germany weather page
Germany weather radar
MinuteCast® for Berlin
The cold front will also help spread fresh chilly air across the country heading into early next week. This should allow some snow to mix with the rain across the higher ground of central and southern Germany later on Monday.
A more unsettled weather pattern will follow for the rest of the first week of the new year.
Storm systems dropping from Scandinavia to eastern Europe will lead to bouts of gusty, chilly winds and rain and snow showers next week.

Overturned bus injures 17 as dense fog causes travel chaos in UK

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

December 30,2016, 10:25:17AM,EST

 

 

Seventeen people were injured on Friday morning in the latest accident to occur amid dense fog across England and Wales in the final days of 2016.
An Oxford Bus Company bus slid off the northbound M40 slip road near Thame in the early morning hours of Friday, according to BBC News.
The accident occurred at 02:45 GMT (9:45 p.m. Thursday EST). Weather observations at the nearby Benson Airport reported visibility down to 100 m (330 feet) at both 2:00 and 3:00 in dense fog with temperatures hovering a couple of degrees below freezing.
The driver and 16 passengers suffered injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones, the BBC stated. The bus was traveling from Heathrow to Oxford.


Thames Valley Police reported that the road was still closed at 11:00 GMT for barrier repair.
This accident comes a day after one woman died as more than 20 cars were involved in four separate crashes on the A40 in Oxfordshire on Wednesday morning, the BBC reported.
Dense freezing fog was observed at the RAF Brize Norton throughout Wednesday morning.
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Hazards to travelers were not only confined to the ground.
More than 280 arriving and departing flights at Heathrow Airport had been delayed as of midday Friday, according to FlightAware. Delays were averaging close to an hour.
“Fog will continue to linger across parts of the East Midlands and southern England into Friday afternoon,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

Site of the overturned bus on the M40 slip road. (TrafficEngland.com/Highways England)
Travelers will face further flight delays and poor visibility. Roads could remain slippery where temperatures are still below freezing.
Roys expects the fog to lift into a low-hanging cloud deck, allowing visibility to improve overnight and into Saturday morning.
However, any breaks in the cloud could allow patchy fog to return.

A cold front with a spell of rain will push southward across Wales and England on Saturday night into Sunday, sweeping away the low cloud.
The unsettled weather pattern that will follow the front will prevent fog from returning during the first week of the new year.

Five Things to Watch In the First Week of 2017

Jonathan Belles, Linda Lam
Published: December 31,2016
An active weather pattern will bring another interesting week of weather to start 2017 across the U.S.
The upcoming week will feature another multi-faceted winter system that will bring the first dose of heavy snow of the year for the Upper Midwest and drought-denting showers and thunderstorms for the South.
In addition, some big temperature changes are ahead which could play a role in a late-week system in the South.

1. Next Winter Trouble Maker

The next winter storm will begin to impact the Pacific Northwest New Year's Eve and will spread into the interior West and into the Rockies on New Year's Day.

Next Winter System

This next round of wintry weather is due to a dip in the jet stream that will push southward into the West bringing cold temperatures. An area of low pressure is then expected to intensify in the Plains Monday and will track toward the Great Lakes.
The result will be snow for much of the West, even in some of the lower elevations such as Seattle and Portland. A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will also be found from the northern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley and the northern Great Lakes.
Strong and gusty winds are also likely early week in the northern Plains and Midwest.
(MORE: Early Week Wintry Mess) 
Portions of the interior Northeast may see some freezing rain, sleet and snow early in the week ahead of this system.

2. Heavy Rain

The second of two slugs of moisture will ride Interstate-10 eastbound during the first half of the week. This welcomed disturbance may bring an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall to much of the South.

Rainfall Forecast

Given the ongoing drought in the South, this rain will generally be beneficial, although it will not erase the drought.
Showers may linger into Tuesday in the Southeast, before drier conditions return midweek behind a cold front.
(MORE: 8 Cool Things to Look For in Winter)
The rain may be locally heavy at times and rainfall totals of more than 3 inches are expected through Tuesday toward the northern Gulf Coast. In fact, flood watches have been issued from southern Louisiana into southwestern Alabama.

3. Severe

An area of low pressure will move from the southern Plains into the Deep South to start the week. In addition to bringing much-needed rain to the South, thunderstorms are also expected to develop.

Thunderstorm Forecast

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday night in central and eastern Texas, as well as into southern Louisiana. The primary threat with these storms will be large hail, but damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado are also possible.
(MORE: Heavy Rain and Severe Thunderstorms to Start 2017 in the South)
The threat of severe thunderstorms slides east on Monday and will stretch from eastern Texas into Louisiana, southern Arkansas, central and southern Mississippi and into southwestern Alabama and the far western panhandle of Florida.

4. Temperature Changes

The next round of brutally cold temperatures will begin to press into portions of the West on Monday, as an upper-level trough, or southward dip in the jet stream, slides southward.
High temperatures on Monday will be 10 to 30 degrees colder than average for much of the Pacific Northwest and into the northern Rockies and northern Plains. This translates into highs only in the single digits and teens for many areas.

Forecast Highs Compared to Average Next Friday

The bitterly cold temperatures will continue to push south and east through the week. This will also be a lasting cold in some areas as temperatures will remain well-below average from the Northwest into the northern Plains through the week.
Low temperatures will also be up to 40 degrees colder than normal for early January, meaning temperatures will plunge into the teens and 20s below zero in parts of the Rockies and northern Plains.
(MORE: January's Cold Reality Starts 2017)
Farther east, the week will start off quite mild with temperatures 10 to 25 degrees warmer than average from the southern Plains to the East Coast. However, by next weekend colder temperatures will return.
Much of the Midwest and Northeast will see highs in the 40s and 50s early in the week but temperatures will only reach the 20s and 30s by late week. Look for highs in the 60s and 70s in the South to be replaced with highs in the 30s and 40s.

5. Late Week Systems

An active pattern will continue late in the week and given the cold temperatures that are expected to be in place, more wintry weather is possible.
The next disturbance is currently expected to move into the West Coast Tuesday night bringing snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains and then snow will spread into the Rockies Wednesday. By late week, this system may bring some snow to portions of the South and mid-Atlantic.

Wintry Setup?

Yet another low pressure system may move into California mid-to-late week. This may result in rain and mountain snow from southern Oregon into California, as well as into portions of the inter-mountain West and Rockies.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
There is much uncertainty with the forecast for late week so be sure to check back to weather.com for forecast updates.

MORE: Winter Storm Europa (PHOTOS)

Wintry Mess Possible for Midwest, Northeast After New Year's Holiday

Brian Donegan
Published: December 31,2016
A wintry mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain is lining up for parts of the Plains, Midwest and Northeast during the first few days of 2017.
(MORE: Winter Storm Central)
Late this weekend, an upper-level trough, or dip in the jet stream, will begin to slide southward over the West bringing cold temperatures and snowfall. This trough will then slide south and east early in the week.
The general setup involves a flow of moist, above-freezing air initially riding over below-freezing air near the surface in the Northeast and Midwest.

Weather Setup Sunday Night

Secondly, while still uncertain this far out in time, an area of low pressure may intensify and track from the High Plains east of the Rockies toward the Great Lakes states, pumping more warm air ahead of it, but generating potentially significant snow and wind to its west and northwest.
Let's break down this complex forecast day by day. Since this is still far out in time, changes to this forecast may be necessary in the coming days.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

Sunday-Sunday Night

• Snow develops across the Pacific Northwest, including Seattle and Portland.
• Snow will also spread across the interior West and into the Rockies.
• Sunday night, precipitation will spread farther east into parts of the Great Lakes region and into the Northeast ahead of this system.
• Colder air trapped near the surface may cause the precipitation to fall in the form of freezing rain, sleet or even snow in spots generally along and north of Interstate 80, from northern New Jersey into Nebraska.
• This may lead to slick roadways if untreated, Sunday night.

(MORE: New Year's Outlook)

Sunday Night's Forecast

Monday-Monday Night

• An area of low pressure is expected to organize in the Plains, with precipitation stretching from the northern Plains into the Upper Midwest, northern Great Lakes and New York state and northern Pennsylvania.
• Mainly snow is expected in the northern Plains, while snow, sleet or freezing rain is expected from eastern Nebraska to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
• Sleet or freezing rain is expected from northern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey into southern New York and, by Monday night, parts of New England.
• Mainly rain is expected elsewhere in the mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, southern Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic states.
• Slippery travel is again possible on any untreated surfaces.

(MORE: Five Reasons Why Freezing Rain Really Is the Worst)

Monday's Forecast

Tuesday-Tuesday Night

• Sleet and freezing rain continue in portions of northern New England.
• Snow will also linger over parts of the northern Plains, upper Midwest and northern Great Lakes.
• This could be accompanied by strong winds, leading to reduced visibility and blowing/drifting snow.
• Mainly rain is expected across the rest of the Northeast and into the Ohio Valley.
• Heavy lake-effect snow may develop by Tuesday night across the upper Great Lakes, possibly spreading into the lower Great Lakes snowbelts Wednesday or Wednesday night.

(MORE: January's Cold Reality Sets In Next Week)

Tuesday's Forecast

It is too early for specific snowfall totals into early next week but the heaviest snowfall with this system is expected in the higher elevations of the West.

Snowfall Outlook

A band of moderate to heavy snow is also possible from northern South Dakota and North Dakota into central and northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
In addition to snowfall, ice may also be a concern early next week.
This forecast is tricky and subject to revisions over the next several days. Be sure to check back with weather.com for updates.

MORE: Winter Storm Europa, December 2016

January's Cold Reality Sets in Next Week

Brian Donegan
Published: December 31,2016
As January arrives, a pattern change will bring a reality check by ushering in much colder temperatures for a large swath of the United States that will last for several days in many areas.
(MAPS: 10-day Forecast High/Low Temperatures)
A southward diversion of the polar jet stream will allow arctic air to flow southward out of Canada into much of the Lower 48 states by later next week.

European model forecast jet stream (white lines) and surface temperatures (color contours) for Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, based on the 00 UTC, Dec. 28, 2016, model forecast.

The chill looks to arrive just after the New Year's holiday weekend in the northern Plains and northern Rockies before expanding its reach south and east through the week.
(MORE: New Year's Holiday Weekend Outlook)

Chilly Forecast

High temperatures Monday will be 15 to 30 degrees below average in the northern Rockies and 10 to 25 degrees below average in parts of the northern Plains and Pacific Northwest. This translates to highs mainly in the teens and single digits from Montana and northern Wyoming into North Dakota and western South Dakota.

Forecast Highs Compared to Average Monday

The arctic air will spread a little farther south and east each day next week.
By late next week, the below-average temperatures should cover much of the Lower 48 states, with the exception of parts of Florida.
Highs in the 20s are possible as far south as the Texas panhandle, which is at least 15 degrees below average for the first week of January.
(MORE: When Is the Coldest Time of the Year?)

Forecast Highs Compared to Average Next Friday

The worst of the cold, however, appears likely to remain locked into the northern Plains and Rockies, with highs remaining up to 30 degrees below average late next week. Some places won't even reach zero degrees Wednesday through Friday, especially across parts of Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.
(FORECAST: Missoula, Montana | Fargo, North Dakota | International Falls, Minnesota)
Since high temperatures will be so cold, you can bet on low temperatures being even more frigid.

Forecast Lows

Morning lows could reach the teens and 20s below zero in the coldest locations of the northern Plains and Rockies next week. These readings are 20 to 40 degrees colder than average for this time of year.
The 6-10 day temperature outlook issued Thursday from the Climate Prediction Center has a very large area of 90 percent probability for below-average temperatures, the largest area in the 15 year history of the outlook according to climatologist Brian Brettschneider. This indicates the high confidence level of the colder than average temperatures and not how much below average temperatures will be.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures may reach below zero in 15 states by Thursday morning. A few record lows are also possible next week, mainly in the Pacific Northwest.
Wind chills will reach dangerously cold levels, placing you at risk for frostbite or hypothermia if you are outdoors and not properly bundled up.
(MORE: What Does Wind Chill Really Mean?)

Rockies, Plains Forecast Next Week

This cold reality check won't reach the East until the end of next week or next weekend, and the air mass will likely modify by that point and not be quite as bitter as it will be over the rest of the country.
However, it will be a noticeable temperature change in the East compared to early week. High and low temperatures will be 10 to 25 degrees warmer than average into midweek and then colder conditions return.

Five Day Forecast

Many locations in the East will see temperatures 20 to 30 degrees colder late in the week compared to the mild temperatures early in the week.
For more details on what the rest of January may bring, check out our January outlook.

MORE: Coldest Places on Earth

New Year's Forecast: East, West and South to Ring In 2017 Wet or Snowy

Jon Erdman
Published: December 31,2016
We've reached the end of another year, and it's time to ring in 2017.
(2016 RECAPS: Top Weather Stories | Weirdest Weather | Most Extreme Weather Cities | Best Photos)
Fortunately, we're not forecasting a major winter storm or, for our southern friends, a bout of severe weather for the New Year's holiday weekend.
However, there will be a clipper system moving through the Midwest and Northeast, as well as an area of low pressure moving into the South. Two additional low-pressure systems will impact the West, which could also lead to some holiday headaches.
Let's break down the forecast for this holiday weekend.
(MAPS: 7-Day Rain/Snow | Forecast Highs and Lows)

New Year's Day

New Year's Day Forecast

• Light snow is possible in parts of northern New England.
• The Interstate 95 corridor looks mainly dry from Boston through Baltimore during the daylight hours.
• Rain and thunderstorms are expected for much of the South and northward into the Ohio Valley. Most of Florida will likely stay dry, with the exception of the panhandle.
• A few severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday night in central and eastern Texas into southern Louisiana.
• Rain and mountain snow are expected along the West Coast from Washington to northern California. Snow will spread into the inter-mountain West and Rockies. Rain and snow will also persist in Arizona and New Mexico.
• Much of the Great Lakes, upper Midwest and central and northern Plains should be dry.
• A mild start to the year is anticipated from the Plains to the East Coast, while temperatures will likely be near to below average for the West.

(MORE: Wintry Mess Possible for Midwest, Northeast After New Year's Holiday)
MORE: Winter Storm Europa (PHOTOS)

Heavy Rain and Severe Thunderstorms Will Start 2017 in Drought-Stricken Areas of South

Linda Lam
Published: December 31,2016
Dry conditions have resulted in widespread drought in the South and had many wishing for a wet Christmas. Those wishes will be granted with a wet New Year's instead.
However, in some areas locally heavy rain may cause flooding and the rain may also be accompanied by severe thunderstorms in some areas.

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings.

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Fall was dry in the South, but recent changes have finally brought some much-needed rain. And more rain is on the way as southwesterly flow aloft will allow moisture to return ahead of an area of low pressure. That flow will allow a few disturbances to move through the region, as well.
(MORE: New Year's Forecast)

Rainy setup for early week in the South.

Rain Forecast

Showers have already developed in portions of the lower Mississippi Valley as of Saturday morning. However, not all of the rain that is visible on radar is reaching the ground due to the very dry atmosphere in place.
Rain will continue to develop and spread north and east through the holiday weekend. By late Sunday, the chance for rain will stretch from central Texas to the Carolinas, as well as along the Gulf Coast and into portions of northern Florida.

Five Day Forecast

The chance of wet weather will persist through Tuesday for the Southeast, while drier conditions begin to return farther west behind a cold front that is expected to push through the region midweek. Another disturbance, however, may bring more showers to the South beginning late Wednesday and lasting through late week.
(FORECAST: Asheville, North Carolina | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Montgomery, Alabama)
A wide swath of more than 2 inches of rainfall is anticipated through Tuesday from southern Louisiana into southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, much of Georgia and northwestern South Carolina. Rainfall may be locally heavy at times, as well.

Rainfall Forecast

Many of the areas that will see the highest rainfall totals have been experiencing the worst drought conditions, including northeastern Alabama and northern and central Georgia.
Of course, there can be too much of a good thing. Residents along the northern Gulf Coast can expect to see more than 4 inches of rainfall as multiple disturbances ripple eastward. That much rain heightened flood concerns enough to provoke a flood watch in portions of the northern Gulf Coast.

Current Flood Watches and Warnings

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

Severe Thunderstorm Forecast

Thunderstorms are also likely, especially toward the Gulf Coast and a few severe thunderstorms are possible late this weekend into early next week.

Thunderstorm Forecast

Sunday Night

• Forecast: Favorable conditions will allow scattered severe thunderstorms to develop from central and eastern Texas into southern Louisiana.
• Threats: Large hail is the primary threat but damaging wind gusts and a few isolated tornadoes are also possible.
• Cities: San Antonio, Texas | Houston, Texas | Lake Charles, Louisiana

Thunderstorm Forecast

Monday

• Forecast: The threat of severe thunderstorms slides east on Monday, stretching from eastern Texas through Louisiana, southern Arkansas, central and southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.
• Threats: Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the primary threats with a few isolated tornadoes possible.
• Cities: New Orleans, Louisiana | Shreveport, Louisiana | Jackson, Mississippi | Mobile, Alabama

Be sure to check back to weather.com for forecast updates.

Drought Update

Most of the South is still experiencing drought conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released Dec. 29. Some areas have seen a bit of improvement since early November, but unfortunately other areas have seen the drought increase.

Areas experiencing dry conditions as of Dec. 27, 2016.
(U.S. Drought Monitor)

Portions of northwestern Alabama have benefited from recent rainfall. However, a little more than 50 percent of the state remains in extreme drought, the second highest category from the drought monitor.
In Georgia, an area south of Atlanta has seen a slight reduction in the drought, but overall conditions have become worse. As of Dec. 27, 26.52 percent of the state is in the exceptional drought category, the highest category, compared to 14 percent on Nov. 1.
(MORE: Two Rounds of Rain Brought Some Drought Improvement in the South)
Southeastern Tennessee has also seen improvement with only 5 percent of the state in extreme drought on Dec. 27, compared to just under 15 percent on Nov. 1.
Many locations from the western Carolinas into northeastern Mississippi are experiencing one of the driest years on record. Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is seeing its second driest year on record through Dec. 26, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, is seeing its fifth driest year, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.
(MORE: Record Dry Streaks in the South)
The expected rainfall over the next week will be beneficial, but it won't end the drought. Many areas of northeastern Alabama, northern Georgia, western South Carolina and western North Carolina would still need more than 9 inches of rain over the next four weeks for the drought to end, according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index.
MORE: Southern Drought, November 2016 (PHOTOS)

This Date in Weather History for December 31,2016 from weatherforyou.com

Weather History
For Saturday,December 31,2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

1917 - The temperature at Lewisburg, WV, plunged to 37 degrees below zero to set a state record. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1929 - Greenland Ranch, in Death Valley, California, went the entire year without measurable precipitation. (The Weather Channel)

1933 - A 24 hour rainfall of 7.36 inches set the stage for the worst flood in Los Angeles history. Flooding claimed 44 lives. (David Ludlum)

1941 - Snow which began on New Year's Eve became a major blizzard on New Year's Day, burying Des Moines, IA, uunder 19.8 inches of snow in 24 hours, an all-time record for that location. (The Weather Channel)

1947 - A late afternoon tornado touched down 10 miles north of Shreveport LA, and dissipated south of El Dorado AR. The tornado, as much as 400 yards in width, killed 18 persons. It damaged or destroyed two thirds of the structures at Cotton Valley LA. (The Weather Channel)

1962 - Perhaps the worst blizzard in the history of the state of Maine finally came to an end. The storm produced 40 inches in 24 hours at Orono, and a total of 46 inches at Ripogenus Dam. Gale force winds produced snow drifts twenty feet high around Bangor. A disastrous icestorm was over Georgia and South Carolina. It ravaged the two states for days causing more than seven million dollars damage. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1963 - A snowstorm struck the Deep South. Meridian, MS, received 15 inches of snow, 10.5 inches blanketed Bay St Louis MS, and 4.5 inches fell at New Orleans LA. Freezing temperatures then prevailed for New Year's Day. (David Ludlum)

1987 - Torrential rains caused extensive flash flooding over eastern sections of the island of Ohau in Hawaii, resulting in many rock and mud slides. Rainfall totals ranged up to 22.89 inches in a 24 hour period, and property damage was estimated at 35 million dollars. Strong winds continued to usher arctic cold into the north central U.S. The temperature at Alexandria MN remained below zero through the day, and Jamestown ND reported a wind chill reading of 58 degrees below zero. Gales lashed the Great Lakes, with wind gusts to 54 mph reported at Lansing MI. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1988 - Warm and wet weather prevailed in the southeastern U.S. Six cities in Florida reported record high temperatures for the date. Thunderstorms produced locally heavy rains from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Southern Atlantic Coast. (The National Weather Summary)

1989 - The year and decade ended on a soggy note in the eastern U.S. Thunderstorm rains pushed precipitation totals for the year to 88.32 inches at Baton Rouge, and to 75.37 inches at Huntsville AL, establishing all-time records for those two locations. Dry weather continued in California. Sacramento and San Francisco finished the month without any rain or snow, and Santa Maria reported their driest year of record with just 3.30 inches of precipitation. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2010 - Unusually warm air fueled strong storms in the midwestern and southern U.S., producing high winds and a preliminary count of 53 tornadoes across five states. At least eight people were killed in Missouri and Arkansas and dozens of others were injured. In Mississippi, about 200 people were evacuated from the Jackson-Evers International Airport, where an EF-2 tornado crossed a runway. (NCDC)

Unseasonable warmth, rain may threaten 2017 NHL Winter Classic in St. Louis

By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather staff writer

December 30,2016, 2:12:58PM,EST

Inclement weather may throw a wrench into plans for the 2017 NHL Winter Classic at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday.

The game between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues is slated for 1 p.m. EST. However, rain and unseasonably warm conditions during the afternoon Monday could lead to dangerous or unplayable conditions on the outdoor rink.
Temperatures will be 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun.

St. Louis Blues' Kevin Shattenkirk (22) and Chicago Blackhawks' Alexandre Fortin (82) reach for the puck during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game, Oct. 8, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

“A mild day is in store for the Winter Classic in St. Louis. Highs will top out in the upper 50s, which will make it difficult for maintenance to keep the ice rink frozen," Rathbun said. "Rain will also fall, which will lead to ponding of water on the rink and difficult playing conditions."
A normal high temperature for Jan 2. in St. Louis is 40.
If the game is delayed, it could be played Monday night or rescheduled for Tuesday night, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
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Detailed St. Louis forecast
Colder air will not return to St. Louis until Wednesday when highs will struggle to reach the freezing mark, Rathbun said.
According to the NHL, an outdoor rink requires up to 2 inches of ice thickness to help withstand the more extreme elements. The NHL monitors the condition of the ice 24 hours a day by using a high-tech system called "Eye on the Ice," which is embedded into the rink. This technology provides updates on temperatures for different parts of the ice.
The ideal conditions for hosting an outdoor hockey game would be temperatures in the low 30s with overcast skies and a touch of light snow, NHL officials have said previously.
The NHL has experienced bad weather during the Winter Classic before. In 2011, the game between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh was moved from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. due to rain and warm conditions.
“We’ve dealt with it before, so we’ll deal with it again if we have to,” Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports, told the Post-Dispatch. "We’re hopeful that everything cooperates. We’ve all been looking at the weather; we’re all well aware of what the pitfalls are.”

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Have questions, comments, or a story to share? Email Kevin Byrne at Kevin.Byrne@accuweather.com, follow him on Twitter at @Accu_Kevin. Follow us @breakingweather, or on Facebook

Germany: New year to bring unsettled weather

By Jordan Root, AccuWeather meteorologist

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

December 30,2016, 10:56:32AM,EST

 

 

A pattern change will bring a turn to more unsettled weather across Germany as 2017 kicks off.
A persistent area of high pressure over the region will begin to weaken and move away through the weekend, allowing more seasonable air to seep in from the north.
From Christmas weekend to the first half of this week, high temperatures were largely 4 to 8 C (10 to 15 F) above normal across most of Germany, including in Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg.
High temperatures this weekend will generally range from 2 to 7 C (35 to 44 F). However, temperatures will struggle or fail to reach freezing where dense fog from the morning lingers into the afternoon. The central and southern valleys are most prone for the stubborn fog and resulted reduced visibility, slick spots and chilly air.
The high pressure should hold on long enough to keep most of Germany dry heading into Sunday.

“New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day look to be largely dry across Germany, which will work out well for those partaking in celebrations,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
While 2016 will end on a dry note, a period of unsettled weather is expected to move in for the first couple of days and nights of 2017.
“A cold front will dive in from the north late Sunday and will bring a few showers lasting into Monday,” Pydynowski said.
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The cold front will also help spread fresh chilly air across the country heading into early next week. This should allow some snow to mix with the rain across the higher ground of central and southern Germany later on Monday.
A more unsettled weather pattern will follow for the rest of the first week of the new year.
Storm systems dropping from Scandinavia to eastern Europe will lead to bouts of gusty, chilly winds and rain and snow showers next week.

 

When snow becomes a canvas: How one artist creates colossal masterpieces using a compass, snowshoes

By Stephanie Koons, AccuWeather staff writer

December 30,2016, 10:43:29AM,EST

 

 

For British artist Simon Beck, snow is a pristine canvas on which he creates intricate, large-scale geometric designs.
Beck, who works mostly by commission in the Les Arcs ski resort in the French Alps, has completed about 240 snow drawings in the past 12 years. He creates his drawings, which are based on fractal patterns such as the Koch snowflake and the Sierpinksi triangle, by walking the equivalent of 12 to 19 miles (20 to 30 km) in a pair of snowshoes.

(Photo/Simon Beck)

For Beck, an Oxford graduate who previously worked as an engineer and a mapmaker, becoming a “snow artist” wasn’t part of a grand plan. One day after skiing, he said, he looked outside his apartment window at Les Arcs and spontaneously created a star design by walking in the snow.
“It started as a bit of a joke 12 years ago, but seven years ago, I decided to take it seriously and make it my main form of activity during the winter in addition to skiing,” he said.
In addition to being a means of staying in shape, Beck said he creates his snow art to make people aware of the potentially devastating effects of climate change.
“There’s also an environmental message,” he said. “Snow is beautiful; we need snow. We need winter and we shouldn’t wreck it too much.”

(Photo/Simon Beck)

The ideal conditions for creating snow drawings, Beck said, include snow that is “about 9 inches deep, which is really quite soft and has a firm surface beneath the snow.”
He prefers to work on a snow-covered frozen lake, which he said lends itself better to photos because of its level surface. And skiers generally don’t venture on frozen lakes, he added, so he can work uninterrupted.
To bring his designs to life, Beck works out from the center with an orienteering compass. Next, he determines the appropriate distances on his designs by counting paces. Each line is made from his individual paces. He adds in the remaining lines and shadings by eye.
“I do as much as I can in one day,” he said. “In average conditions, it takes about 10 hours before getting too tired to carry on.”
Since Beck’s designs have an ephemeral life span, he takes photos immediately after completing the drawings. He said that they usually stay in place until the next heavy snowfall, which has ranged from eight hours to eight weeks.

(Photo/Simon Beck)

Beck, who has an international Facebook following of 280,000 and sells high-resolution copies of his photos to magazines and websites, is looking to expand his horizons.
Among the places he would like to take his art are Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Central Park reservoir in New York City. He would also like to experiment in city neighborhoods and football stadiums.
During the off-season, Beck has started to make sand drawings on beaches in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He uses a rake to draw his designs, which are washed away the next day by encroaching tides. The main difference between snow and sand art, he said, is that in the sand, “you can walk all over the drawing without making any mark that shows you’ve been there.”
“It makes it a lot easier to do the measuring and you can do a lot more ambitious drawings as a result.”

(Photo/Simon Beck)

In 2014, Beck released “Snow Art,” a compilation of 200 of his snow drawings. The book is available for purchase online at snowart.gallery.

(Photo/Simon Beck)

(Photo/Simon Beck)

(Photo/Simon Beck)

(Photo/Simon Beck)

(Photo/Simon Beck)

(Photo/Simon Beck)

(Photo/Simon Beck)

Weekly wrap-up: Plane disappears over Lake Erie amid snowy conditions; Christmas Blizzard ravages north-central US

By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather staff writer

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and staff writer

December 30,2016, 10:02:13AM,EST

 

 A blizzard created hazardous travel across the north-central United States on Christmas Day as it unleashed howling winds and nearly 2 feet of snow in parts of the region.

The storm resulted in stretches of major interstates, such as interstates 90 and 94, being closed across Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. Snow and ice also caused many roads in northwestern Minnesota to be closed for a time as well.

Photo/North Dakota Highway Patrol

Bismarck, North Dakota, received a daily record snowfall of 10.5 inches on Sunday.
Typhoon Nock-ten, locally known as Nina, made landfall over the Philippines on Christmas Day, stranding thousands of holiday travelers and causing at least seven fatalities.
The typhoon caused widespread damage on land, toppling trees and cutting power to five entire provinces in the Philippines. The powerful storm also sunk a cargo ship off the coast during the height of the storm, the Associated Press reported.

A passenger jeep navigates a flooded street caused by rains from Typhoon Nock-Ten in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines, on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Record warmth made it feel like summer in Texas through the holidays. Houston set a record high of 83 F on Tuesday, surpassing the old record of 81 set in 1971. On Wednesday, temperatures reached the 80s for the fifth consecutive day, tying the city's previous record for December days with 80-degree temperatures.
Foggy conditions hindered travel across the United Kingdom during the middle of the week. A deadly pileup involving up to 20 vehicles occurred near Oxfordshire, located in South East England on Wednesday. Numerous flight delays were also reported at London's Heathrow Airport and London City Airport.
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A powerful earthquake struck southern Chile on Christmas Day, causing the ground to crack and some roadways to crumble. The magnitude-7.6 quake also lead to a tsunami warning, but the warning was later canceled with no tsunami occurring.
A series of smaller earthquakes shook parts of central California and Nevada on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with over 40 earthquakes measuring between 2.5 and 5.7 on the Richter scale.
A small plane departing from Burke Lakefront Airport near Cleveland, Ohio, went missing late Thursday night, according to the Associated Press.
Six people were on board when it disappeared over Lake Erie. Weather had prevented a boat search overnight, but aircraft were assisting. Lake-effect snow showers were around Thursday night.
A nor'easter dumped several feet of snow across northern New England from Thursday into Friday, creating hazardous travel and leaving thousands without power.
Naples, Maine, about 30 miles northeast of Portland, received at least 27 inches of snow. Parts of Maine had intense snowfall at a rate of 3 inches an hour.
Thundersnow was reported throughout northeastern Massachusetts, including around Boston.
A round of strong storms moved through Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, forcing cars to navigate heavy flooding around the city. The flooding resulted in numerous road closures and water rescues.
Several AccuWeather meteorologists and staff writers contributed content to this article.