According to meteorologists, in the United States Christmas week comes with a rush of arctic air and heavy snowfall. Snow, rain and strong winds are expected to accompany the frigid temperatures as part of an arctic cold front.
Forecast models are beginning to show a powerful low system developing in the Midwest and Great Lakes that could dump heavy snow from Oklahoma to those Lakes Thursday night through Saturday.
The Northeast can experience heavy rain and potentially damaging wind gusts.
For decades major East Coast storms have occurred in this type of configuration, which carries the risk of heavy snow and rain, gusty winds, coastal flooding, thunderstorms, and even tornadoes on the south side of the storm.
Heavy snowfall and strong winds from the system have the potential to disrupt travel and cause power outages, they said.
Forecasters have said that those traveling or shopping this week should plan ahead for disruptions from this new winter storm.
That wave is forecast to reach as far as Florida. “Obviously, this is a pretty significant cold event that we have here,” said Joe Worster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“We are forecasting our lows to drop in North Florida to the very low 20s Fahrenheit.”
