Dangerous winter weather may become ‘bomb cyclone’ over Great Lakes — as 300K already lose power
With millions of Americans traveling during the holiday week, a powerful post-holiday winter storm is threatening to disrupt travel across the Northern Tier of the country. The system is bringing a dangerous mix of snow, ice, rain, and strong winds, with blizzard warnings already in effect for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The storm is expected to continue moving through Tuesday. Portions of the Northern Tier have already experienced several inches of snow and gusty winds, and the FOX Forecast Center says impacts will expand as the system pushes east toward the Northeast. Colder air moving in behind the storm will also set the stage for lake-effect snow.
The system began as a rapidly strengthening low-pressure area in the Midwest and will continue sweeping through the region, producing rain and snow along with powerful winds while ushering colder air eastward.
Snowfall totals are expected to range from 5 to 8 inches in many areas, but shifting winds over the northern Great Lakes could trigger intense lake-effect snow. In some locations, totals could ultimately be measured in feet.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the storm’s rapid intensification will significantly tighten the pressure gradient, leading to very strong winds. Some forecast models indicate the system could undergo bombogenesis — a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure that turns it into a bomb cyclone — as it moves over the warmer waters of Lake Michigan.
Wind gusts exceeding 60 mph have already been reported across parts of the Plains and Upper Midwest. These powerful winds have contributed to widespread power outages, with more than 300,000 customers nationwide affected, including over 78,000 in Michigan alone.
Ahead of the storm’s cold front, rain will spread across much of the Northeast today. Many areas, including much of the I-95 corridor, are expected to remain above freezing, limiting snow potential for most locations.
However, northern New England and higher elevations in the interior Northeast may see a brief period of frozen precipitation early this morning before temperatures rise and precipitation changes to rain. The FOX Forecast Center warns that areas where cold air remains trapped could see significant icing, creating dangerous travel conditions, especially at higher elevations. Winter weather alerts have been issued across much of New England, with ice accumulations of up to a quarter-inch possible.
Similar to the Midwest, the Northeast will also experience a burst of strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph. In the Midwest, especially near the southern Great Lakes, and in higher elevations of New England, wind gusts could reach 60 mph, raising the risk of additional power outages.
Behind the storm, winds will shift to the northwest, allowing much colder air to pour into the region. This setup will fuel heavy lake-effect snow downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Portions of western New York and the Tug Hill Plateau could see snowfall totals exceeding one foot through Tuesday.
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