Weather across America

(NATIONAL) Heavy snow and gusty winds will impact parts of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes through Monday. Meanwhile, a strong cold front will produce isolated severe thunderstorms and heavy rain Sunday night from the lower Ohio Valley to the Southern Plains.

An ongoing winter storm impacting the northern tier will continue producing periods of heavy snow and gusty winds between the Northern Plains and Upper Great Lakes Sunday. An area of low pressure responsible for this winter weather is forecast to enter northern Minnesota Sunday afternoon and strengthen as it swings into the Upper Great Lakes by Monday morning. Moderate-to-heavy snow will be found near and to the north of the low pressure center between eastern North Dakota and northern Michigan.

Storm total snowfall amounts greater than six inches, with localized maximum amounts up to a foot are likely for this region. High winds trailing the system will make conditions even more treacherous for areas under a blanket of fresh snowfall. Low visibility and slick roadways will most likely be an issue until late-Monday, after the system exits into southeast Canada. By Monday night into Tuesday morning, the only leftover snow showers will be associated with lake effect snow as bitterly cold air rushes over the still ice-free Great Lakes. 

Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are currently in effect and stretch from northern North Dakota to northern Michigan. High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories have also been issued across parts of the Northern Plains and central High Plains due to the potential for wind gusts up to 70 mph.

The other potential weather hazard associated with this storm system will be found along and ahead of a racing cold front. This attached frontal boundary and cold airmass in its wake is forecast to clash with the well above average temperatures found throughout much of the southern and eastern United States. As it does so, a line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop by this evening and stretch from the lower Ohio Valley to eastern Texas. Isolated severe weather is possible along this line of storms, particularly from western Tennessee to the ArkLaTex region. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes are all a possibility. Additionally, periods of heavy rain could lead to a few instances of flash flooding from far southwest Ohio to northeast Arkansas.

By Monday, the cold front and marginal severe weather threat is expected to shift into the Deep South and western/central Gulf Coast. Elsewhere, showers are also forecast across the Northeast on Monday as the aforementioned cold front pushes into the region. 

Meanwhile, potentially damaging wind gusts could impact areas along the Lower Great Lakes following the cold frontal passage. High Wind Watches and Lakeshore Flood Watches have been issued along parts of western New York to highlight the concern.

Otherwise, active weather will also be found across the Northwest as storm system enters from the Pacific and interacts with a relatively cold airmass in place on Monday. Light snow is forecast to fall across the typical mountainous terrain of the Cascades and Olympics, with snowflakes also potentially mixing into the lower elevations of Washington. Portions of the northern and central Rockies may also experience a festive light snowfall between Monday and Tuesday morning.