US Weather Forecast: Potent Storm Could Leave Southwest, Barrel from New Mexico to Maine This Week

A potent storm could leave the US Southwest region and move in a northeastward pattern to pass by New Mexico to Maine this week, according to a weather forecast on Sunday, January 22.

The developing storm is lingering over the Rockies with a chance to unleash substantial snowfall to over 20 states across the country, becoming a possible cross-country storm.

The storm comes several days after a previous cross-country storm traversed the West Coast to the East Coast, causing various weather hazards like heavy rain, isolated tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms.

Last week's storm was a product of the recent Pacific storm train, fueled by atmospheric river systems, that struck California for several weeks from late December 2022 to early January 2023.

US Potent Storm

AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert explained a robust atmospheric energy is moving across the Southwest early this week will pave the way for a potent storm to take shape in the southern and central US.

AccuWeather meteorologists warned that the snow precipitation could reach as far as the southern US like northern Texas.

This is possible as the storm will begin to tap or absorb abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, which will cause severe weather and torrential rain across the Gulf Coast.

Heavy snow is also possible across parts of the southern Plains, Gilbert added.

On Saturday, January 21, snow hit several areas in the Great Plains, affecting states like western Kansas and portions of Nebraska.

Cross-Country Winter Storm

Meteorologists from the Weather Underground company stated the "winter storm" will develop in the Plains early in the week then drop snow in the Midwest to the Northeast approximately on or before the weekend.

Furthermore, the system could also bring thunderstorms over the Gulf Coast.

The Weather underground forecasters said this week's storm have not come into focus yet since it has not formed but were quick to clarify some trends in the past which could predict is behavior during the early stage.

First, the second winter storm's snow may slightly farther south than Winter Storm Jimenez, which could include parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Ohio Valley, and Texas.

The said storm could also be strong, bringing heavier snow for the Midwest and Ohio Valley by midweek.

Major Winter Storm

The National Weather Service (NWS) calls the developing storm system as a "major winter storm" that will organize over the Southwestern US on Monday, January 23, before transforming into a massive winter storm system and hitting the southern Plains on Tuesday.

The NWS highlights the storm will affect not only the central, southern, and northeastern part of the US but also the Eastern US through midweek.

Heavy snow and severe weather with heavy downpour are expected in the said region, the US weather agency said.

During this period, disruption to travel, businesses, and daily activities are likely, similar to recent extreme weather events that struck the US amid the winter season.