Eastern US/Canada: weekend weather

First Winter Storm of 2015 to Unfold From Chicago to Boston This Weekend

A storm that brought rare snow to Southern California and the Southwest at midweek will spread a swath of snow, ice, rain and travel problems from Chicago to Boston this weekend.

The storm will strengthen and take a track toward the lower Great Lakes this weekend.

According to AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, “There will be disruptive snow and ice north of the storm track.”

Heavy snow, substantial ice and drenching rain will be associated with the storm, despite its fast movement. While travel problems will generally be limited to a day or so, areas that receive a heavy amount of ice or wet snow could have lengthy power outages.

After depositing a swath of snow and ice over parts of the central and southern Plains to close out the week, a swath of ice and snow will extend northeastward from northern and western Illinois to a large part of of Michigan and central Ontario during Saturday and Saturday night.

A swath of slippery travel will stretch across the general area from Kansas City, Missouri, to Chicago and Detroit. The first part of the storm will occur as ice or a wintry mix, then transition to snow over the Upper Midwest. However, the heaviest snow from the storm will fall north and west of these cities from Wisconsin to northern Michigan.

People traveling in or through these locations should anticipate slippery roads, flight delays and possible flight cancellations.

Warm air would win the battle in most areas south and east of the storm track with the major form of precipitation being rain with some snow or wintry mix limited to the onset of the storm. Most of the storm will be rain in the Ohio Valley, including the cities of Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Louisville, Kentucky.

Gusty winds, lake-effect snow and snow showers may cause sporadic travel delays in the wake of the storm later Sunday.

Read more:
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/winter-storm-2015-midwest-east/39895052