As cold blast subsides, frigid air is on the way

With this week’s cold, wintry blast expected to ease on Saturday, more frigid air is on the way for next week.

While record cold temperatures are not expected on Saturday and pleasant temperatures are expected to briefly improve, most will remain seasonally cold and blustery.

Wind chills on Saturday afternoon can reach up to 20 degrees in Chicago, 30 degrees in New York City and 40 degrees in Washington DC.

Overnight and into Saturday morning, locations along the 1-95 corridor from Washington DC to New York City saw a quick burst of light snow and wintry precipitation. However, this was not enough to accumulate anything more than a light layer of dust in most places and it has already started to dry out. In some places, from DC to western New Jersey, measurable snow of up to half an inch was recorded.

Lingering icy and slippery conditions are possible for anyone heading out Saturday morning in these areas, but things start to improve later in the morning. Wind chills this morning, while still seasonally cold, are warmer in most places than Friday morning.

Another blast of colder air will bring the Midwest and Northeast back to near-freezing high temperatures and near-freezing lows by Monday. Meanwhile, the West will begin to warm up and some places will come close to breaking daily records over the next week.

A fast-moving snowstorm, aided by lingering cold air, will move through the Dakotas and Nebraska on Saturday before reaching Wisconsin and Illinois on Sunday.

Snow moves across the Dakotas and Nebraska into the afternoon, reaching Iowa and Minnesota by early afternoon.

The heaviest snow will be concentrated in Iowa and southern Minnesota, where 3 to 7 inches of snow could be seen through Sunday morning. A winter storm warning is in effect for places like Fort Dodge, Waterloo, Mason City and Worthington.

At night, it may start to snow in Chicago and Milwaukee. Snow accumulations could reach 3 to 4 inches in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas, but the highest totals will occur further west.

At least 1 to 3 inches of snow from Montana and the Dakotas to southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

This system continues to move east and brings the next shot of cold air, but is beginning to break down and will bring little snow to the Northeast other than some expected normal lake effect snow.

Rocky Mountain Snow

The Rocky Mountains from Idaho and Montana to Colorado and Utah will see heavy snowfall this weekend, with most places at higher elevations seeing more than a foot of snow and in some places more than 2 feet.

This snow is currently falling and will continue into Saturday before tapering off overnight and ending Sunday morning.

Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings remain in effect for these areas.