There's quite a bit of weather to talk about over the next 90 hours or so ranging from a potentially significant ice storm across parts of the Midwest and the potential for a severe weather outbreak across the Southern U.S. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Midwest Ice Storm Sunday/Sunday night
Late this evening/tonight, an area of low pressure is expected to develop across the eastern Rockies. During the day on Sunday, this storm system will lift northeastward from the central high Plains into the Midwest region. Milder air and a vast amount of moisture will be drawn from the Gulf of Mexico into this system. Temperatures as a result will begin to warm up especially in the mid levels of the atmosphere. Because this region has been cold over the past several days, the ground will take longer to warm. Precipitation may start off as snow before changing over to sleet/freezing rain Sunday morning/afternoon through Sunday evening. During the day on Sunday, there is the chance for a prolonged period of ice accumulation over eastern Iowa, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. It's a situation that will likely create very hazardous to impassible roadways for travel. Freezing rain advisories and winter storm watches are in effect for sections of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota for the possibility of snow and significant ice accumulations (in excess of 0.25") Sunday. This includes cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Rockford, La Crosse, Rochester, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Davenport, & Dubuque.
Southern U.S. Potential Severe Weather Outbreak Tuesday/Wednesday
On Tuesday, an upper level trough will finally lift northeast from the southwestern U.S. A strong, and deepening low pressure area will form and move across the Plains and into the Midwest. Deep and sufficient moisture will be available across the South ahead of a trailing cold front. This will provide for sufficient energy and thus instability for severe thunderstorms to develop Tuesday afternoon/evening from northeast Texas/western Oklahoma, southwestern Missouri and points east. Severe weather will extend as far north as downstate Illinois on Tuesday. Cities that run the risk for severe weather Tuesday/Tuesday night includes Dallas, Shreveport, Little Rock, Memphis, Springfield (MO), Jackson (TN), and Paducah. Damaging winds appear to be the main threat with the possibility of tornadoes thanks to decent low level shear. Late Tuesday into Wednesday the threat shifts east across parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
It is possible that portions further east across the Southeast may be included later on in the week. This is a potentially serious situation also worth monitoring. Stay tuned for more updates!
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