After a few days of spring-like temperatures, winter weather is expected to make a comeback as back-to-back storm systems are set to dump heavy snow on millions of people across the Northern Tier of the U.S. beginning Thursday.
All told, more than 2 feet of snow could fall across parts of Wisconsin and Michigan through Monday, with more than a foot possible for other parts of the Upper Midwest as well as the Northern Plains and New England.
First storm: Thursday to Friday
The first storm will begin during the day on Thursday, as an extension of the atmospheric river that is currently impacting the Pacific Northwest.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, an area of low pressure is forecast to rapidly form in Montana and the Dakotas, then move east.
This area of low pressure will quickly deepen and create a massive surge of wind over the Plains and Rockies.
High wind alerts are in place across the region, with wind gusts up to 75 mph possible. These winds could create power outages as well as periods of whiteout driving, impacting travel.
Snow will begin in the Dakotas early Thursday, which will lift the warm front and strengthen the system.
Moisture will collide with the colder air to the north, allowing for heavy snow to break out over northern Minnesota and Michigan.
The FOX Forecast Center expects that 5 to 8 inches of snow will accumulate north of Interstate 94. The wind of the clipper will carry over into the Great Lakes, potentially creating blizzard conditions.
Blizzard warnings have been issued for the lakeshore regions of Lake Superior in Minnesota.
The heavy snow and wind will make traveling difficult on Thursday night into Friday morning.
The clipper will eventually move into New England, bringing a round of snow to ski country. The totals will not be impressive, but after days of warm weather, it could lead to snow melts and ice jams.
Second storm: Saturday to Monday
As the first storm ends, a second storm is expected to form, impacting millions from Saturday into early Monday.
On Friday afternoon, heavy rain and mountain snow will move out of the Pacific Northwest as a dip in the jet stream pushes east across the Northern Rockies.
This dip in the jet stream will move into the Plains by Saturday, causing a low pressure system to develop across the Midwest.
With a high pressure system situated across Canada, cooler air will be ushered in behind this area of low pressure, allowing a strong temperature gradient to set up.
As the low moves east into the Great Lakes, heavy snow is likely to break out across the Upper Midwest and northern Great Lakes.
Limited visibility is likely due to blowing moderate to heavy snow, which could lead to blizzard conditions across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan.
This includes cities such as Minneapolis, Marquette, MI, and Green Bay, WI.
Northern portions of New York and New England could see some snow as well, starting late Sunday into early morning.
A blast of arctic air will move in after the second storm, impacting the Upper Midwest all the way down into the Tennessee Valley.
This will be a sharp change compared to the record-breaking warmth that is impacting much of the East Coast this week.