1.1 million square miles of Lower 48 under cold, snowy weather alerts
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Version 0 of 1. More than 1.1 million square miles — 35 percent — of the Lower 48 is under some kind of a winter-related weather alert on Tuesday, as a deep trough of low pressure funnels frigid Arctic air and snow into the central and southwest U.S. This week’s chilly weather pattern is a far cry from last, when much of the country was running warmer than average in the days around Christmas. Now, more than 40 million people are feeling the bitter chill of winter as they ring in the New Year. Bitterly cold temps will continue on New Years Eve. If you're headed out, plan to wear extra layers! #wywx #newx pic.twitter.com/5hYynH3YwT — NWS Cheyenne (@NWSCheyenne) December 30, 2014 Bitterly cold temps will continue on New Years Eve. If you're headed out, plan to wear extra layers! #wywx #newx pic.twitter.com/5hYynH3YwT — NWS Cheyenne (@NWSCheyenne) December 30, 2014 The majority of the watches, warnings, and advisories in effect on Tuesday are for teeth-chattering low temperatures. A wind chill warning is in effect for portions of Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, where temperatures are running more than 30 degrees below normal in some locations. With the wind, the temperature is expected to feel like minus 20 to minus 40 degrees across this region on Tuesday night. Related: U.S. weather pattern shifts dramatically colder The overnight lows will be only marginally warmer from the northern Great Lakes to northeast Montana, and south into the Texas Panhandle. Marquette, Mich., is expecting a wind chill of minus 20 to minus 30 degrees Tuesday night. Even the Amarillo, Texas, area will need to break out their coldest weather wares on Wednesday morning as the wind chill dips to minus 15 degrees. TUE AM UPDATE Not looking quite as moist for CA/NV. Brunt of storm to impact UT/AZ. Vegas: Flurries possible Wed pic.twitter.com/QRFzZRv4Fp — NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) December 30, 2014 TUE AM UPDATE Not looking quite as moist for CA/NV. Brunt of storm to impact UT/AZ. Vegas: Flurries possible Wed pic.twitter.com/QRFzZRv4Fp — NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) December 30, 2014 Winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories are in effect for much of the Southwest as the trough digs deep into the Rocky Mountains. The high peaks of the Southern California mountains are expected to receive as much as 10 inches of snow this week. Las Vegas could see flurries on Tuesday night into Wednesday, though at the very least, scarves will be in order for tourists heading to the strip to ring in the New Year. Related: Potent winter storm brings New Year’s chill to Southwest U.S. Much of California will be feeling a chill on Thursday morning, when low temperatures will sink into the 20s and 30s. A freeze watch is in effect from northern Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, north into the Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is monitoring the possibility of a record low in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday morning, which will host Rose Parade beginning at 8 a.m. The forecast low for Thursday morning is 35 degrees. Coldest overnight temps of the season expected on New Years Day morning. #AntelopeValley in the teens. #cawx pic.twitter.com/rB00xesbM8 — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 30, 2014 Coldest overnight temps of the season expected on New Years Day morning. #AntelopeValley in the teens. #cawx pic.twitter.com/rB00xesbM8 — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 30, 2014 The same storm system will bring a wintry mix of sleet, freezing rain, and freezing fog to central and west Texas and southeast New Mexico on Tuesday and Wednesday. Finally, the lake effect snow machine is expected to bring up to two feet of snow to parts of western New York. Lake effect snow watches and warnings are in effect for the Buffalo, N.Y., area east of Lake Erie, and counties east of Lake Ontario through Thursday night. Lake Effect #Snow Warning E of Lk Ontario Ton-Thurs. A foot or more poss. Mobile forecast: http://t.co/YuQeAIP7UK pic.twitter.com/eoTCMGdZjr — NWS BUFFALO (@NWSBUFFALO) December 30, 2014 Lake Effect #Snow Warning E of Lk Ontario Ton-Thurs. A foot or more poss. Mobile forecast: http://t.co/YuQeAIP7UK pic.twitter.com/eoTCMGdZjr — NWS BUFFALO (@NWSBUFFALO) December 30, 2014 Although temperatures are running slightly blow average in the eastern U.S. this week, lows won’t dip nearly as cold as they are out west. Washington, D.C., is forecast to be in the upper 30s on Wednesday, while New York City will top out in the low 30s. Overall, the eastern U.S. appears to be winning the weather this week. |