Winter Storm with Snow, Gusty Winds Moves Through Northern Plains; Unsettled Weather Remains in Western US [NWS]

A winter storm moves through the northern Plains of the United States, bringing snow and gusty winds in its path as of Thursday afternoon, February 8. This is based on the latest US weather forecast of the National Weather Service (NWS), which also reported that "unsettled weather" continues for the West and can also experience localized heavy snowfall for many mountain ranges.

The storm is caused by a low-pressure system that is slowly moving across the Upper Midwest and is expected to continue across the Great Lakes region on Friday, February 9. This confirms a previous forecast by US meteorologists that the parts of the Midwest and Northeast could experience a snowstorm before Valentine's Day. This occurs several days after the regions experienced warm weather.

The winter weather system arrives amid the persistence of an atmospheric river-fuelled storm in the Western US. Local sources reported that the water vapor-carrying "river in the sky" caused widespread chaos in California, mainly due to flash flooding in some parts of the state and flight disruptions since late January 2024. Recent weather forecasts indicate that inclement weather may continue.

Winter Storm Alert

The NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) issued its winter storm alert at 2:25 p.m. EST (local time) on Thursday, highlighting the wintry precipitation for the northern Plains through the evening of the same day. Heavy snow and gusty winds are then expected to shift from west to east by early Friday morning. The eastern half of the country will also experience severe thunderstorms ahead of the said system, the WPC says.

The system bringing snow to the northern Plains has been called "Winter Storm Kayden" which is expected to coincide with another system that can bring another round of snow and wintry conditions through the remainder of the week, across the West. Some parts of Arizona, Colorado, and Utah can experience snowfall, particularly in higher elevations.

According to the NWS, an upper level troughing will remain over the Western US for the next couple of days. During this period, several shortwaves will rotate to support the wintry precipitation across the region, where regional mountain ranges will experience moderate to heavy snowfall. The winter storm can also create dangerous travel conditions for incoming and outgoing flights in the region.

Above Average Temperatures

If the West is experiencing winter-related weather hazards, the eastern half of the nation will incur above-average temperatures through Saturday, February 10, the US weather agency forecasted. However, this warm weather in the US forecast would not last as cold and snow could return next week, according to meteorologists.

The springlike weather forecast will still occur within the confines of the current North American winter season, spanning from December to February. With this, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned that this "false spring" can also affect animals that are dependent on plant resources, which may not be immediately available.