(CNN) — Even though spring is coming earlier this year, we must remember that winter is not over yet.
A major winter storm will impact millions of people this week, from coast to coast, with heavy snowfall, dangerous winds, possible blizzard conditions and, for some, the coldest temperatures of the season.
What to expect this week:
- Widespread heavy snowfall
- Strong winds
- Blizzard conditions
- Sleet and freezing rain
- Severe storms
- Heavy rains
- Record high and low temperatures
The storm is already showing signs of life along the West Coast, as snow and rain fall in the Pacific Northwest, adding to its already successful snow season.
“Total snowfall from the storm will likely be measured in meters for many of the western mountain ranges,” the Weather Prediction Center said.
The Cascades and Rocky Mountains could see up to 3 feet of snow at higher elevations on Tuesday, while winds in the Pacific Northwest have the potential to gust up to 60 mph. The sea near the coast will have a height of up to 6 meters, which will bring large and strong waves to the coastal areas, and cause beach erosion.
By this Tuesday, the storm will expand into California and the Great Basin, bringing rain, snow and gusty winds, which could cause power outages.
“The coldest storm of the season, and possibly in recent years, is expected to impact the Southwest (California) on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday with rains in the coasts and valleys, mainly with snow in the mountains and deserts,” tweeted the National Weather Service in Los Angeles on Sunday. “There may even be snow or graupel in some high valleys! Graupel refers to snow granules that resemble soft hail.
Parts of California could accumulate 2 to 76 inches of rain and up to 90 inches of snow through Wednesday, which could lead to travel headaches in some of the most densely populated areas.
“This amount of snow will cause the passes to be closed for a period of time that will affect traffic to and from Los Angeles,” the National Weather Service office in Hanford, California said.
Heavy snow and extreme cold will also move to the Rocky Mountains and Midwest, where the storm could have its greatest effects.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for southern Wyoming, where nearly 2 feet of snow will fall and winds gusting to over 70 mph will create blinding conditions. The meteorological service also warns that the thermal sensation drops to 3 degrees Celsius below zero.
The storm unleashes its fury in the Midwest Tuesday through Thursday, with two rounds of snow. The first round on Tuesday will bring 4 to 6 inches of snow to much of the region.
The big problems come in the second round on the night of Wednesday through Thursday. This is where up to 2 feet of snow can be seen across the Midwest, along with 50 mph wind gusts. Travel will be next to impossible during this time period.
With the storm just days away, the weather service is still honing the details.
“If this forecast holds, blizzard warnings are likely for the second half of the storm. As for when and where exactly the threat transitions from snow load/poor roads to poor visibility and inability to travel, that will come as we get closer,” the Twin Cities weather service office explained.
This Thursday will also bring a swath of freezing weather for some big cities, including Chicago. Ice could also be a problem for parts of the Ohio Valley, but determining exactly where it will occur is a difficult challenge. You should keep an eye on the weather forecast if you live in these areas, because freezing rain and sleet could put a stop to your travel plans and even lead to power outages.
While the northern half of the storm will be all snow, the southern half will be heavy rain. We could see strong storms develop this Wednesday in places like Dallas, Little Rock, Shreveport and Memphis. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted the area as a region with potential for large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
The storm reaches the Northeast and New England by the end of the week. As of now, it looks like New York City is out of snow once again, however Boston could get several inches.
Things could change from time to time, but as of now much of the snowfall appears to be exclusively for the inland Northeast and much of New England.
Wild temperature swings this week
The winter part of this storm system will receive the lion’s share of attention this week, but the change in temperatures across the country cannot be ignored.
We could set more than 130 high temperature records in the Southeast Tuesday through Friday, with more than 40 possibly broken record temperatures in the Northwest.
This Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures will be -1 to -4 degrees Celsius below normal for the northern Rocky Mountains and northern Plains, while temperatures will be 1 to 6 degrees above normal. normal for the southeast and mid-Atlantic.
This Thursday, there could be a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius from North Dakota to Florida.
Whether you’re buried under three feet of snow and experiencing freezing temperatures or basking in record-breaking heat and sunshine, this week will touch nearly every corner of the country with wild weather.
— CNN Meteorologist Haley Brink contributed to this story.
