Spring Snow Storms

The first week of spring is bringing a taste of winter to parts of the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest from two separate snowmakers.

The first system, an Alberta clipper, moved through the Midwest, southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Sunday and Monday, spreading a swath of snow from Minnesota and Wisconsin through northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania before fizzling over the Appalachians.

Some locations picked up a foot or more of snow:

• 15 inches in Fennimore and Woodman, Wisconsin
• 12 inches in Marquette and Waukon, Iowa
• 11.5 inches near Zumbrota, Minnesota
• 7.9 inches in Rochester, Minnesota
• 5.8 inches at Chicago O'Hare Aiport
• 4.5 inches near Radnor, Ohio
• 3.6 inches at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
• 3 inches at Madison - Dane County Regional Airport

System #2: Through Wednesday

The next system moved into the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies on Monday.

As it continues to move east through the northern Plains the system will strengthen and an area of low pressure will develop. Many areas will see a mix of rain and snow as there is a lack of deep cold air in the northern Plains.

This system will then move into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region by Wednesday.

(MORE: Temperature Roller Coaster for the East)

Moisture will stream northward and where it meets cold air, with temperatures near to below freezing, snow may develop.

Early in the week, accumulating snow will coat the higher elevations of the northern Rockies, including the Cascades, Bitterroots, and the Tetons, a welcome sight for the snow-starved Northwest. Accumulating snow is also likely Tuesday and Wednesday in North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and northern Michigan.

The cold front associated with this area of low pressure will stretch through the mid-Mississippi Valley and into the southern Plains. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop along the cold front as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is drawn northward and a few thunderstorms will likely be strong to severe, especially in portions of the Plains and Midwest through Wednesday. 

(MORE: Severe Weather Forecast)

Below you will find our current forecast.

http://www.wunderground.com/news/spring-snow-northern-plains-upper-midwest