Weather

Intense, Spring-like storm to sweep the Heartland

A rapidly intensifying storm system will emerge from the Southwest at mid-week and cross the central Plains and upper Midwest on March 13-14. Blizzard conditions will develop on Wednesday from northeastern Colorado into South Dakota, while a broader area from the central High Plains into the Red River Valley (of the North) will experience a significant, late-winter storm.

Meanwhile, heavy rain may cause flooding from the central Plains into the upper Midwest, especially in areas where melting ice and snow will maximize runoff potential and could lead to ice jams.

Farther south, high winds will rake southern sections of the Rockies and High Plains, while locally severe thunderstorms may sweep across the South.

Toward week’s end, cool but much more tranquil weather will trail the powerful storm system.

Looking ahead, the 6- to 10-day outlook calls for the likelihood of near- or below-normal temperatures across the central and eastern U.S., while warmer-than-normal weather will prevail in the West.

Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation across most of the country should contrast with wetter-than-normal conditions in northern California and across Florida’s peninsula.