Winter Storms Continue to Parade Through Upper Midwest and Interior Northeast

The wintry weather is going to persist right into the start of the first full week of the new year for the Upper Midwest and the interior Northeast. Here is a closer look at what to expect as you head back to school and work in the days ahead.

More Clipper Storms Taking Aim at Northern U.S.

Ole Man Winter is not loosening his grip across the Upper Midwest and the interior Northeast. Cold temperatures and more rounds of wintry precipitation will continue to spell trouble for travelers as millions of Americans return to reality after the holidays. This part of the country will continue to be under the threat of persistent clipper storms diving down from Canada, as well as the presence of lake-effect snow.

As is typical for this time of the year, the roar of the clipper storms through the region tends to reignite the lake-effect snow machine, generating a cycle of snow on top of more snow. The hardest-hit areas downwind of the Great Lakes should prepare for several inches of snow as a result of the active winter weather pattern.

While the parade of storms could present challenges for people heading home after the holidays, those on vacation at ski resorts will welcome the fresh waves of snow. A large zone from the Upper Midwest to the interior Northeast will see a new round of flakes every day or so through at least the beginning of the week, helping to pad snowpack levels on the slopes.

It has already been a busy week of weather for the northern tier of the country. An arctic front helped to facilitate the development of snow from northern Minnesota to the mid-Atlantic and New England coastlines on Wednesday and Thursday. Another clipper storm raced through the Upper Midwest on New Year's Day before reaching the Northeast early Friday.
Yet another quick-moving storm is churning up light snow flurries in a swath of land from northern to central Michigan on Saturday. This snow is forecast to reach upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and a large part of New England by late Saturday and early Sunday.

Widespread snow accumulations of an inch or two are in the forecast through the end of the weekend in this general zone. Once again, the most potent snow bands are expected to set up downwind of the Great Lakes. The lake-effect snow is predicted to fire up late Saturday and early Sunday along the northern and eastern lakes.