We have by far the strongest push of cold air yet diving into the United States tonight on the heels of the latest clipper which is probably bringing the worst blizzard conditions yet to the Dakotas, Minnesota into Iowa.

As has been the case with all 4-6 clippers, this one will not bring a ton of snow but a lot of WIND. Gusts have been clocking 60 with white out conditions in ND, SD, MN, IA and that system sweeps into the Ohio Valley and through the Northeast tomorrow, opening the fridge door.

(Top image credit: Pierre Rohel)

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Temps are around 1 in Minneapolis at the moment but will be near -20 around 9am tomorrow and by Tuesday morning, around -25. Speaking of Tuesday, the arctic front will have reached the Gulf Coast where a storm system will be gathering and set to bring a very rare snow and ice event from South Texas along the I-10 corridor through Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and the coastal Carolinas.

Here’s the latest NWS watches and warnings. Note the ‘winter storm watch’ in the Deep South! Elsewhere, it’s pretty typical of this setup.

Here’s a look at the latest surface chart off the ECMWF.

24 hrs

48 hrs

Note the progression of the arctic air and just how low those thicknesses are, keeping in mind that the lower the thickness, the lower the temperature.

A real fight will occur right along the Gulf Coast with warm, moist air being lifted north, over the wall of cold. By Tuesday afternoon into the evening, the 32-degree line sinks near to the coast with snow and freezing rain breaking out in such cities as Houston (possibly Galveston), New Orleans, Mobile, Tallahassee, Savannah, Charleston and Wilmington.

Here’s the latest ECMWF snow chart through 90 hrs.

Closer look at the Southeast…

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw this latest run of the GFS! Yes this model had barely a flake yesterday.

Think it’s safe to say, THIS WON’T HAPPEN, but simply seeing this on a model is amazing by itself.

Here’s the NAM.

Not too dissimilar to be honest.

I think it’s safe to say that this upcoming event will be significant with some perhaps experiencing their biggest snowfall on record. Even 1-2″ on the Florida panhandle would be quite something. Don’t think I’ve ever seen an accumulating snow event in Florida in my 15 years of studying US weather.

As for the cold.. here’s the latest ECMWF low numbers over the N Plains Tue AM.

I’m shooting for -25 in Minneapolis, -20 in Chicago. This would be the coldest for both since 1994. Outdoing -24 in MSP back in 2004 and -18 in Chicago back in 2009.

As for points south and east.

Here’s the Northeast low numbers Tue AM.

Note the -30 in southern Indiana and Ohio!!

I recon 0 in New York for the first time since 1994 is very possible, Wednesday if not Tuesday AM.

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Tags: arctic blast, arctic outbreak, blizzard, Southeast snowstorm, us snowstorm