A massive storm system that recently soaked California and helped firefighters battle wildfires is now making its way across the country. By the weekend, this storm is expected to bring a mix of rain, snow, and ice over a stretch of 2,600 miles, from the Southwest to the Northeast.
The good news for Florida and the Gulf Coast is that they won’t have to deal with another round of frozen weather like last week’s record-breaking snowstorm in the Southeast. However, people in the Great Lakes and Northeast should brace for bursts of snow through Wednesday. Even if the snowfall isn’t heavy enough to pile up, it could still make morning and evening commutes tricky, says meteorologist Dan Pydynowski from AccuWeather.
Meanwhile, parts of the South Central U.S. and the Mississippi Valley could get hit with severe thunderstorms and flooding rain from Wednesday into Thursday.
Out West, California got some much-needed rain over the weekend, with parts of the state receiving an inch of rainfall. The mountains saw several inches of snow. Now, the storm is moving east, and states like Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska could see accumulating snow as early as Wednesday. Further south, central Texas to western Kentucky might get drenched with up to six inches of rain, which could lead to flooding and travel delays.
By the end of the week, cities like New York could see either heavy rain, ice, or snow. AccuWeather warns that Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., could also get several hours of steady rainfall, making travel a hassle.
Florida Finally Warms Up After a Historic Snowfall
After a week of freezing temperatures and shocking snowfall, Florida is finally warming up. In Pensacola, Tuesday’s high was around 62 degrees, and by Friday, it’s expected to hit 70.
Last week, Pensacola saw an average temperature of just 33.8 degrees—about 17 degrees below normal! The city also made history with a record-breaking five inches of snow, while some nearby areas got up to 10 inches.
Now, cities like Tallahassee and Jacksonville will enjoy temperatures in the 70s, while Central and South Florida will stay in the high 70s and low 80s.
January Has Been Much Colder Than Usual in the Northeast
January has been a rough month for the Northeast, with temperatures running several degrees below normal. Washington, D.C., has been about six degrees colder than usual, Philadelphia is about five degrees below average, and New York City is about four degrees below its typical temperatures.
Surprisingly, despite the cold, the Northeast hasn’t seen much snow this season. Philadelphia, for example, has only recorded 4.9 inches of snowfall since October 1—just half of what it usually gets by this time of year.
Phoenix Is on the Verge of Breaking a Dry Spell Record
Phoenix is close to setting an unwanted record—a 161-day dry streak. The city’s airport hasn’t seen measurable rain in months, and if it doesn’t get at least 0.01 inches by Thursday, it will officially break the record.
Earlier forecasts gave the city a 50-60% chance of rain this week, but those odds have now dropped to 20-30% for Tuesday and 40% for Wednesday. While some areas around Phoenix saw rain on Monday, none of it reached the airport, which is where official records are kept.
Gale Force Winds Could Make Travel Dangerous in the Great Lakes and Northeast
Strong winds are whipping through parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast, prompting officials to issue gale warnings for coastal areas in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The warnings also extend to Midwest states like Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
The National Weather Service cautions that these powerful winds, which could reach 50 mph, may cause high waves and dangerous boating conditions. In Chicago, the dry air combined with gusty winds has created an increased fire danger, with officials urging residents to be extra careful with smoking materials and open flames.
Will California’s Rain Keep Wildfires Away?
While the rain that recently fell in Southern California helped slow down wildfires, it won’t keep the region safe for long. Meteorologist Alex DaSilva from AccuWeather explains that the recent rain was helpful, but it wasn’t enough to eliminate fire risks completely.
“Maybe this keeps things down for a week or so,” DaSilva said. “But it’s just going to get dry again soon.” In other words, while the wet weather provided a brief break, Southern California could be back to worrying about wildfires in no time.
A Warmup Is Finally Here After Weeks of Freezing Cold
After weeks of brutal cold, much of the Central, Eastern, and Southeastern U.S. is finally seeing warmer temperatures. Weather expert Deirdre Dolan from the Weather Prediction Center says that many areas will experience temperatures well above average through Thursday.
In the north-central U.S., temperatures could be 15-25 degrees higher than normal, possibly breaking records. The South, which saw an unusual snowstorm last week, is also warming up quickly.
For now, it looks like winter is easing up in some places, but for others, the wild weather continues. Keep an eye on forecasts and stay safe!
