As predicted and talked about, the pieces of the plan for heavy snow in the Midwest are coming together today and tonight. But that’s only half of the story. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will also hit the Gulf Coast thanks to growing low pressure and the difference in air masses.
It will snow a lot today and tonight in eastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, lower Missouri, and northern Arkansas. This is because low pressure is building and pulling Gulf moisture and energy up over very cold air. We’ll eventually see that snow move east into Tennessee and Kentucky. In places where the strongest bands of snow fall, 8 to 12 inches or more of snow will often accumulate.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms will happen along the Gulf shores (and up to about 100 miles inland) of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama tonight and into early tomorrow morning. This is the warm leg of our storm system. We don’t think there will be many severe thunderstorms, but we do think there will be some strong to severe cells tucked in among the heavy rain and thunder.
Be aware that there is a chance of big hail, damaging winds, frequent lightning, heavy rain, and even a tornado in one area. Also, early tomorrow morning, strong thunderstorms might hit the coast and north Florida. They will pass quickly, though.
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