Major Winter Storm Expected to Plow through the Southern Plains and into the Southern Mississippi Valley Advises the Swinden Group
Southern Plains, U.S. – The Swinden Group is advising its clients from New Mexico to the southern Mississippi River Valley that an approaching major winter storm will create hazardous and dangerous to impossible travel conditions beginning Thursday and lasting into Friday.
A slow moving low pressure system will move out of the desert southwest into eastern New Mexico late Wednesday and into the southern Plains on Thursday and into Friday and then eventually to the east coast on Saturday.
“This has the potential of being a high impact winter storm with the possibility of freezing rains leading to major icing of up to an inch in some places, sleet, and heavy snow of up to a foot on Thursday for the southern Plains region,” explains Matthew Swinden of the Swinden Group. “At this time, it looks like parts of Oklahoma will bear the brunt of the ice accumulation while icing is possible anywhere in the watch and warning areas.”
Precipitation may fall as rain and then turn over to snow late Wednesday for New Mexico and then on Thursday for the Southern Plains of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas and into the southern Mississippi River Valley. There is still some uncertainty as the exact track as more of central and northern Texas may be under the gun for icing and heavy snow / sleet.
On Thursday, a cold front will drop down triggering the snow and also usher in high winds potentially causing near blizzard conditions in some areas. The main impact from this storm will potentially be hazardous / dangerous / impossible travel conditions. Expect delays and closures along the Interstates along with the usual flight delays and cancellations.
“If traveling in the region Thursday or Friday – have a Plan ‘B’ prepared. The best thing to do is not to travel on Thursday and early Friday as we are advising our clients that this may be a crippling storm for some parts of the Southern Plains,” says Swinden.
In areas that are forecasted to receive a half inch or more of ice accumulation, expect widespread power outages that may last for several days as this will be a crippling severe weather event.
Anticipate school and businesses to be closed Thursday and possibly Friday.
Expect this storm to impact the Mid-Atlantic region on Saturday.
Interests in the region should monitor the progress of this storm and begin to make preparations for the possibility of a long duration event.
Watches & Warnings:
Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado from this morning to midnight Thursday. Most of Oklahoma, parts of northern Texas and northwestern Arkansas from 6 am Thursday morning to Friday.
Winter Storm Watches have been issued from for most of New Mexico, the panhandle and northern Texas, Oklahoma not already under a winter storm warnings, southern Kansas, most of central and northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, northern Mississippi, and western Tennessee / Kentucky. These watches should be upgraded to Winter Storm Warnings or downgraded to Winter Weather Advisories on Wednesday.
Expect additional winter storm watches to be issued today for portions of the Mid-South in anticipation of the storm tracking eastward for Friday.
About the Swinden Group
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Contact:
Matthew Swinden
The Swinden Group, LLC
Phone: 303-406-3622
Web: www.TheSwindenGroup.com
Email: matt@TheSwidnenGroup.com
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/SwindenGroup