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Powerful new winter storm to slam Pacific Northwest, move toward Plains and Midwest, U.S.

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A powerful winter storm with areas of heavy snow and ice will cross the Pacific Northwest tonight, January 15 into 16, 2020 and drive east across the Plains and Midwest by the end of the week, NWS warns.

"A very strong area of low pressure currently focused offshore of the Pacific Northwest will be advancing inland tonight and traversing the Intermountain West Thursday [January 16] through early Friday," NWS forecaster Orrison noted 19:36 UTC on January 15, 2020.

The setup should yield heavy snowfall for the Olympic Mountains, the Cascades and extending well south down across the Sierra-Nevada, with as much as 60 – 90 cm (2 to 3 feet) of snow possible for the highest elevations going through Friday morning. 

Meanwhile, heavy rain is expected for the immediate coastal ranges of Washington, Oregon and central to northern California where locally a few inches of rain is expected for the event by the end of the week, according to Orrison.

Image credit: NOAA/GOES-West. Acquired 21:50 UTC on January 15, 2020.

This winter storm will then reorganize across the High Plains and aim for the Midwest by Friday evening.

"As it does so, moisture returning north from the Gulf of Mexico will allow a widespread area of precipitation to break out, including a swath of locally heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from portions of the central Plains northeast through the Upper Midwest. This is expected to result in a fairly widespread area of travel difficulty over the central U.S. by Friday night, with very slippery roads and locally poor visibility."

A significant change in temperatures across the eastern U.S. is expected ahead of this storm, as very mild temperatures for this time of the year will give way to the arrival of an area of Arctic high pressure surging southeast down from Canada tonight and Thursday.

Featured image credit: NOAA-20, UW-CIMSS

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8 Comments

  1. I just wanted to say thank you to Watchers & especially my favorite articles usually posted by my favorite Ms. Julie Celestial & Mr. Teo Blašković. God bless you both and thank you for keeping us informed because as you know the media in America tells us nothing of what’s going on in the real world all they care about is the stupid impeachment of the best president we’ve ever had President Donald J Trump. But thank you and God bless you for always telling us the truth and keeping us informed in America. I’m shocked how many people have no clue what’s going on in any parts of the world including Australia. Keep it up because I’m spreading the word that everyone who wants truth and real news needs to come to this website and read the articles by these two great authors who got a Great Lengths to make sure we have the truth! God bless you both and keep up the great work! You will be rewarded in heaven!
    Your devoted reader,
    Jennifer Riley

      1. I meant every word!!! Without you Ted (and Julie) we’d literally have no clue. You’re awesome!!! A debt i can never repay. God bless you brother! Your devoted reader,
        Jennifer Riley

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