The low pressure system currently in the Mediterranean begins to sink into the Mississippi Valley by Friday night. On Saturday, the depression moves slowly across the southeast, finally heading north over the east coast.
Rain, Snow, Snow or Frost – How does it all work out in 24 hours? It will be the same in some states this weekend.
The storm will move through parts of the Midwest and Central Mississippi Valley on Friday, reducing one foot of snowfall.
Wind will blow in these areas, which can lead to snowfall and poor visibility.
8 to 12 inches of snow fell in some parts of North Dakota on Friday.
Heavy snow will continue to fall throughout Minnesota and Iowa on Friday evening as the storm continues south. Half an inch to an inch of snow fell throughout the area on Friday afternoon, which is likely to continue into the evening.
In all, a total of 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected in these areas until Friday night.
From there, the system goes deep south to Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas.
The Southeast gets a mix of everything
In the southeastern regions, the system begins in the form of rain on Saturday.
As the temperature drops, that rain turns into frost, snow, and eventually snow in many places.
Predicting winter weather in the Southeast is never easy because time often goes down the wire.
“These different types of winter rainfall are very sensitive to small changes,” said Kyle Thiem, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Atlanta. “A change of one degree or two can mean the difference between relatively harmless rainfall and the most damaging snow and ice accumulation.”
However, it is the system’s slow forward speed that provides the system for a freezing snowstorm that can strike millions of people.
Cities like Charlotte and Colombia will be the place to experience the snow Carolinas, which will take up about half an inch of ice, knocking down trees and power lines with strong winds.
A snowstorm warning was issued for parts of South Carolina prior to the event and is in effect Saturday night through Sunday night.
In the southern Appalachian Mountains, how quickly the total height of snow rises. In Asheville, North Carolina, for example, it is predicted to rise 8-12 inches, but can rise up to 20 inches at altitudes above 4000 feet.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
The storm will return to the east coast on Sunday and Monday, with more than a foot of snow expected in some places.
Major metro areas such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston will receive some snow, but accumulations will be prevented if it turns to rain.
Inland cities such as Charleston, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Syracuse and Burlington, Vermont will experience heavy snowfall.
What helps the Northeast is that long before most of the snow arrives, very cold winds and dangerous winds will be in the cold place.
Air cold warnings are in effect for more than 20 million people on Fridays and Saturdays as temperatures inside New England could drop below zero to 40 to 45 degrees.
CNN meteorologists Chad Myers, Dave Hennan, Monica Garrett and Haley Brink contributed to the story.
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