A wintry 1-2 punch: 2 storms to blanket much of nation in ice, snow
ARLINGTON, Va. − Two storms forecast to develop this week could slam the Midwest and East with paralyzing snow and ice and bring nearly a foot of snow to the nation's capital.
The first storm, actually the latest in a series over the last few weeks, will roll through the Midwest on Monday before fueling a blast of snow and ice across the Ohio Valley and the East from Virginia to New England through Tuesday. Cincinnati; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Philadelphia and New York City are among cities likely to feel the impact, according to weather.com, which forecast 6-10 inches for this Washington suburb.
"It's been a disruptive start to February, and this onslaught of winter storms is expected to stick around for most of the month," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. He warned of a "February frenzy of storms every few days in many places."
AccuWeather said a band of steady rainfall was likely across the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast states that could drench some areas with 1-3 inches. The highest amounts likely to occur from far eastern Texas through northern Louisiana, central Mississippi and Alabama. Cities such as Dallas, Little Rock and Nashville will also remain warm enough to face rain and possibly thunderstorms.
But areas farther north could face a lot of snow and ice, AccuWeather predicted.
"This can lead to accumulating snow that may impact millions from the Plains to the Mid-Atlantic states and southern New England," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus, who warned of "significant travel" across major cities in the region Tuesday.
Forecasters said it remained unclear how much snow will fall. Some areas in the lower Midwest could see only rain or nothing at all. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pensylvania and the Mid-Atlantic states could land in the bulls-eye for snow.
Saturday snow is just the start: Welcome to a 'parade' of winter weather
"Heavier snow is more likely from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic," wrote weather.com's Jonathan Erdman. He added that some ice accumulation is possible from in Kentucky, southern Virginia and North Carolina.
The second storm could develop Tuesday night in the Front Range of the Rockies and spread to the central Plains on Wednesday before stretching to Mid-Atlantic states.
That storm "expected to closely follow on the heels of the early week storm, impacting many of the same areas beginning on Wednesday," Duffus said.
AccuWeather warned that snow and even a period of ice could hit Chicago, Detroit and Buffalo. And there is a chance that the corridor of sleet and freezing rain is more expansive with the second storm, especially across the Mid-Atlantic region and New England.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter storms: 2 storms could blanket much of US in ice, snow
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