Another Blockbuster Storm Could Hit The Plains And Midwest States This Week
One month after one of the most powerful storms on record pummeled the Plains and Midwest, another storm of similar strength has been forecasted to strike the same region this week.
“Another strong storm is poised to impact the central U.S. from Colorado to the Great Lakes mid-to-late week this week, with strong winds, and heavy precipitation” reported Meteorologist and owner of Empire Weather, Ed Vallee.
“While likely not a “bomb” (requires a 24mb drop in 24 hours or less), this will be another very strong storm with significant impacts. Rain and snow will break out across South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa Tuesday night, and expand in coverage across the central Plains and Midwest into Wednesday. As this storm deepens, winds will be strong, gusting 40-60 mph across the Plains, leading to strong wind generation. Alternatively, heavy rain and snow will impact SD, northern NE, and MN with some areas seeing up to 2 feet of accumulation. Data points to total liquid falling from this storm ranging from 2-4″, with locally higher amounts. Regardless of exact numbers, this region is moisture laden due to heavy winter rain and snow, and this additional moisture will lead to catastrophic flooding in the Upper Midwest. This will continue to promote disruptions to planting processes in the central and southern U.S., and likely lead to delays further north as we head deeper into the Spring,” Vallee added.
Vallee explains the probabilities of the storm developing into a “bomb cyclone” (an area of low pressure that drops 24 millibars in 24 hours) are low. However, some weather models are showing the storm is on the brink of becoming one. Either way, this storm is expected to unleash severe weather in the next 12 to 48 hours.
