Potential Major Winter Storm Targets The Midwest This Weekend, Then Cold Plunges Deep Into The South, East

Where We Go From Record Warmth To Snow

A winter storm this weekend could dump heavy snow and bring strong winds to parts of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, then will deliver a blast of cold air to much of the East and South.

Straight out of the textbook for wild swings in March weather, this winter reality check will follow on the heels of a severe weather outbreak and spell of record warmth in the central and eastern U.S.

(MORE: March Is A Frustrating Weather Month)

First, A Wintry Teaser

Before we get to the weekend, there is a wintry system that will also affect parts of the northern tier of states.

A new system will quickly sweep east from the Northern Plains to the northern Great Lakes Thursday and Thursday night, then eastern Canada, upstate New York and northern New England with snow Friday into early Saturday. Strong wind gusts are also possible with this system from the Northern Plains through the Great Lakes and Northeast.

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

Weekend Storm

Timing

But a much stronger storm with more widespread snow is currently forecast for this weekend.

On Saturday, a broad area of snow will blanket the Northern Plains and Rockies from Montana to Minnesota.

By Sunday, a strong low pressure system will wrap up somewhere in the upper Mississippi Valley or western Great Lakes, with widespread snow and strong winds. Ahead of the sharp cold front, there could even be a few strong to severe thunderstorms in parts of the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys, including areas just hit by severe weather this week.

Sunday night and Monday, the strong low will push the cold front rapidly into the East. Precipitation may change from rain to a quick burst of snow in the Ohio Valley and Appalachians. However, along much of the East Coast, this may be a rain event, with precipitation changing to rain eventually as far north as northern New England.

Strong winds are expected to persist in much of the Midwest and East into Monday.

How Much Snow

As usual for a storm several days out, the computer forecast models aren't yet in sync on the exact track of the strong surface low. That and the extent location of subfreezing air will determine where and how much snow will fall.

For now, a zone from parts of Minnesota, possibly northern Iowa into Wisconsin and Michigan could see at least 6 inches of snow this weekend, with peak amounts over a foot possible in some areas.

And as alluded to earlier, this could be accompanied by strong winds, leading to dangerous driving conditions, especially from Saturday night through Monday morning. If you plan to travel in this timeframe in the western Great Lakes and upper Midwest, you should consider either delaying or canceling those plans.

Check back with us at weather.com for updates to this forecast.

Cold, For A While

Forecast Low-lights

That weekend winter storm will pull down a fresh supply of cold air from Canada beginning this weekend that will have staying power into St. Patrick's week.

Sunday, that cold will nosedive southward into the Plains. Monday, that cold air will have reached the northern Gulf Coast. Tuesday, that cold air will have swept through the East, including Florida.

Monday, highs will be stuck in the teens, 20s and 30s in the Midwest. St. Patrick's Day will be stuck in the 20s and 30s in the Northeast and Midwest, while the Southeast shivers in the 40s and 50s, for the most part.

Some subzero lows are possible in parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula Monday and Tuesday. Much of the Deep South, including parts of far northern Florida, is forecast to dip below the freezing mark Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

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

How Long Will It Last?

If you've had enough of winter weather, especially following the recent warmth, we do have some good news.

Warmer air should work its way eastward in the Plains by the middle of next week, then may ooze farther east later next week.

While those near the East Coast may hang on to at least somewhat cooler than average temperatures longest, most should see at least some relief from the cold as the week wears on.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.