WWTBAM Bored

A major autumn storm will bring early-season blizzard conditions to parts of the central Plains later today and into Thursday. A heavy, wet snow driven by gale-force winds will produce white-outs and power outages.

The ingredients are coming together across the Rockies and central U.S. A fierce and active jet stream is in place across the Rockies, allowing a large cold air burst to dive out of Canada and down the Front Range of the Rockies.

The cold air, upper-level energy and Gulf of Mexico moisture streaming north across the Plains in the lower elevations are combining over the western Plains, developing into a fierce low pressure system over lower Missouri Valley this afternoon.

Light to moderate rain is falling across Nebraska and Kansas as temperatures slowly sink out of the lower 40s and into the upper 30s. This afternoon and evening, the colder air moving into the north-central Plains will cause rain north and northwest of the developing low to change over to a heavy, wet snow.

Nebraska and northern Kansas will likely see the heaviest snow, with six inches or more of snow falling across the central part of the Cornhusker State between this later afternoon and Thursday night. Localized accumulations of a foot of snow are possible near North Platte, Neb.

In addition, the strengthening low will lead to strong northerly winds blowing as high as 50 to 60 mph, creating near-blizzard conditions and white-outs.

A Blizzard Warning is in effect for northwestern Kansas and extreme southern Nebraska, with a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for south-central Nebraska, where the most snow is likely. A Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Watch is in place for central Nebraska.

The snow will be of the heavy and wet variety, and could easily weigh down trees and power lines. In addition, roads are expected to be treacherous for the evening commute as temperature sink below the freezing mark. Be prepared for the loss of power, and have a winter car survival kit at the ready if you are travelling in the next couple days.

The low will continue to track eastward through the Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes and East later this week, although the air will be warm enough to bring just a chilly rain.