Winter Storm

The Next Winter Storm Could Become Strong Nor'easter As Record Cold Arctic Blast Unleashed Into Plains, South

Kingston’s Winter Weather Triple Threat For East

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Winter's grip on the central and eastern states isn't letting up as we enter the second half of February with more bitterly cold air threatening record lows and another winter storm on the horizon that could become a major nor'easter late in the week.

Let's step through what we know and don't know about this setup for the third full week of February.

(MORE: How Social Media Can Mislead Winter Storm Forecasts)

The Cold Blast

-Another blast of bitterly cold arctic air will engulf the central states through the week, where temperatures will be 20 to 50 degrees below average. Over a hundred daily record lows could be set from the Plains to the northern Gulf Coast Tuesday through Friday mornings. Some of that cold air will also spill into the East, including much of Florida.

-You can see some of the forecast lows in the map below. Subzero lows may spread as far south as Oklahoma. A few readings in the 40s below zero are expected in the coldest spots of Montana and North Dakota. Wind chills in the Northern Plains could reach into the 50s below zero.

-The cold air will deepen behind another winter storm, named Winter Storm Kingston by The Weather Channel, that will bring snow and/or ice to parts of the central and eastern states Monday night through Thursday or early Friday.

(MAPS: 10-Day US Forecast Highs, Lows)

(Forecast morning lows Monday-Wednesday)

The Next Winter Storm

-The exact track and strength of this winter storm is not yet set in stone, which means the forecast for any snow or ice totals, including amounts and exact locations impacted, is still to be determined.

That said, here is the general timing:

-Monday night and Tuesday: Snow and ice picks up in the Plains and parts of the South from north Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas to Kansas and Missouri.

-Late Tuesday into Wednesday: Snow and ice spreads into the mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley into the mid-Atlantic states. There is some potential of a significant ice and/or snowfall in the Carolinas on Wednesday.

(MAPS: 7-Day US Forecast Snow, Rain)

The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow. Areas in pink are expected to see sleet or freezing rain (ice).

Strong Nor'easter?

-This system could then deliver snow and strong winds to parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast as a nor'easter sometime later Wednesday through Thursday, but that’s not a given yet.

-A track of the storm closer to the coast would increase that chance, while a track farther offshore would only deliver a glancing blow or nothing at all, as the graphic illustrates below.

(MORE: What Is A 'Nor'easter'?)

Low pressure will develop near the Gulf Coast and track eastward. A track closer to the East Coast would increase the chance of snow and wind on the Eastern Seaboard (left arrow), while a track farther offshore would decrease the odds of significant snow (right arrow).

-An increasing number of computer forecast models suggest a nor'easter is possible. NOAA's Weather Prediction Center highlighted a swath of the Northeast in a "heavy snow" threat for next Wednesday and Thursday in their extended hazards outlook. Chances are growing of heavy snow from Virginia to Massachusetts.

-For now, if you see snow and ice in your forecast, it's best to keep tabs on the latest updates by checking weather.com and The Weather Channel App in the coming days. We'll be able to provide more key details as this storm draws closer in time.

(MORE: Why Snowfall Forecasts Change)

Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.