A powerful storm system emerging from the Rockies is forecast to bring a mix of ice, snow, and rain to a large portion of the U.S. this weekend, potentially affecting millions of Americans. AccuWeather reports that more than a dozen states are expected to experience significant weather disruptions. Snow and ice are predicted for the central U.S., while rain and thunderstorms are anticipated in the southern regions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that cold high pressure will gradually shift eastward, reaching the Southeast and Central Appalachians by Sunday. As the cold air moves, it will interact with upper-level energy over the Great Lakes and Northeast, generating lake-effect snow downwind from Lakes Erie and Ontario, with significant snow expected through Sunday. The Great Lakes and Upper Great Lakes regions are also forecast to experience moderate to heavy snow.
According to AccuWeather, snowflakes could reach as far south as northern Oklahoma, with accumulations of up to half a foot of snow possible from central Nebraska to Ohio through early Monday. This accumulating snow is expected to cause severe travel disruptions in cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati.
By Saturday afternoon, the storm will move into the Southern High Plains and the Southern Plains by Sunday. The NWS expects significant wintry weather, including heavy snow in the Central Plains, especially along and north of Interstate 70. Sleet and freezing rain are forecast for eastern Kansas, the Ozarks, and extending eastward into the Tennessee and lower Ohio Valleys on Sunday. A major freezing rain event is expected, creating dangerous ice accumulations and leading to power outages, tree damage, and hazardous travel conditions.
In the southern U.S., thunderstorms are expected to develop overnight Saturday into Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, a line of thunderstorms will form over eastern Texas, intensifying as it moves into Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, causing additional disruptions through Sunday night. The storm’s broad range of severe weather conditions is expected to bring significant challenges to millions of people across the country this weekend.
