Winter Storm Goliath will spread snow and ice over the Plains, Upper Midwest and possibly New England through early next week. Some of the heaviest snow amounts may target parts of the southern High Plains where strong winds are expected to create blizzard conditions, resulting in very difficult if not impossible travel conditions. As a result, NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) has posted blizzard watches and warnings for parts of this area.
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A dangerous ice storm warning has been posted for portions of western Oklahoma, where a crippling ice storm is possible. The Norman, Oklahoma NWS office said that ""numerous power outages will be likely." A variety of other winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect across the Plains from Texas northward to parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Winter Weather Alerts
(MORE: Severe Weather Forecast)
An area of low pressure will develop aloft over the Southwest and southern Plains this weekend. In response to this, a surface low pressure system will also develop in the southern Plains this weekend, which combined with sufficient cold air to its north from high pressure, will result in heavy snow for parts of the southern Plains. That area of low pressure will then track towards the Midwest early next week, bringing snow to parts of that region and eventually New England.
Current Radar
Winter Storm Goliath Storm Timing
Saturday NightThe storm will really begin to crank up in the southern Plains, with snow or rain changing to snow increasing across parts of New Mexico, west Texas and western Oklahoma. Increasing winds combined with the snow may lead to poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions in the southern High Plains. Blizzard conditions are expected. A narrow band of freezing rain or sleet is also possible from the Texas Panhandle to west-central Oklahoma and central Kansas.
Cities Potentially Affected: Albuquerque, New Mexico | Roswell, New Mexico | Amarillo, Texas | Lubbock, Texas
Interstates Potentially Affected: I-40, I-25, I-27, I-70
Saturday Night's Forecast
Snow, possibly heavy, persists in parts of New Mexico, west Texas, southwestern Kansas and southeastern Colorado. Strong winds gusting to 50 mph on the backside of the low pressure system will likely combine with the snow resulting in poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions with blizzard conditions at times. Power outages are also likely due to the strong winds. The strong winds will also create snow drifts, possibly up to 10 feet high which may block entrances to buildings.
A transition area of sleet and freezing rain may continue from parts of the Texas Panhandle to west-central Oklahoma and south-central Kansas. Ice accumulations could be locally significant on power lines and tree branches, which combined with strong winds, may lead to power outages.
Cities Potentially Affected: Roswell, New Mexico | Lubbock, Texas | El Paso, Texas | Amarillo, Texas | Oklahoma City
Interstates Potentially Affected: I-40, I-25, I-70, I-20, I-10
Sunday's Forecast
The timing of the storm is highly uncertain early next week, and will depend on how quickly the area of low pressure moves northeastward into the Midwest and the exact track that low takes. In addition, the amount of cold air available for the storm to tap into could be limited.
For now, snow or a wintry mix may pivot from the southern High Plains into the Midwest Monday into Tuesday as shown on our forecast maps below. Wintry weather is also possible in central Pennsylvania, Upstate New York and New England as moisture from the storm runs into cold air supplied by high pressure in eastern Canada. In Pennsylvania, southern New York and southern New England, this wintry precipitation would change to rain as warmer air pushes north.
Monday's Forecast
Tuesday's Forecast
How Much Snow?
The second phase of Goliath will deliver the heaviest snow. At the moment, the highest snow totals may target parts of southwestern Kansas, western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico. This is depicted by the dark purple and pink shadings on our forecast graphic below. It's not out of the question that some locations could see 12 inches or more of total snow along with crippling blizzard conditions.A second round of accumulating snow may also blanket parts of the northern and central Plains and Upper Midwest early next week, but that will depend on the amount of cold air available and the exact track of the low pressure system forming in the southern Plains this weekend.
In addition to the snow, ice accumulations could be locally significant from northwest Texas into parts of central Oklahoma and southern Kansas.
This forecast map shows the snow forecast for both phases of Goliath through next Tuesday in the Midwest and Plains.
Snowfall Forecast Through Next Tuesday
Finally, some accumulating snow is possible in New England and Upstate New York early next week Monday night through early Wednesday. It's far too early to get into specifics, but this map below gives a general idea of the locations that could see snow.
New England Snow Potential
Snowfall Reports
Here is a listing of some of the greatest snowfall amounts by state:California
- 28 inches near Soda Springs
- 20 inches at Northstar Ski Resort and Kirkwood Ski Resort
- 23 inches southwest of Montrose
- 20 inches near Sharkstooth
- 5.7 inches near Notus
- 24 inches at Heavenly Ski Resort
- 22 inches at Mt. Rose Ski Area
- 14.5 inches near Gold Beach
- 12.8 inches in Hartford
- 12 inches in Spearfish
- 12 inches at Camp Jackson
- 4.0 inches near Deer Park
- 13.7 inches near Thayne
- 9 inches near Wilson
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