Time-lapse: 7 states expecting tropical storm-force winds with cold front

An incoming cold front will usher in a high chance of tropical storm-force winds for at least seven states later this week, as well as the likelihood of more heavy snow in the Great Lakes region, a forecast shows.

It comes not even a week after several states in the Northeast experienced lake effect snow over Thanksgiving weekend, dropping as much as 5 feet of snow in some parts of New York. Transportation officials in Ohio and Pennsylvania issued numerous warnings about the storm.

On Monday, the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center warned people in the Great Lakes and Northeast that strong winds, cold temperatures and potentially more lake effect snow were on the way.

“Heads up! Strong winds are forecast to begin impacting the north-central U.S. and Great Lakes on Wednesday before shifting to the central Appalachians and Northeast on Thursday,” the NWS Weather Prediction Center posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Lake effect snow and snow squalls will also be a concern following the strong cold front.”

A time-lapse map graphic showing the probability of wind gusts greater than 40 mph was included in the post. Tropical storm winds are those measuring between 39 mph and 73 mph. Although the incoming winds are in no way related to a tropical storm, the winds associated with the cold front will be equivalent to those produced by a tropical storm in some places. On the Beaufort Scale, winds of these strengths are classified as gale to violent storm.

According to the time-lapse, states with nearly a 100 percent probability of seeing wind gusts at 40 mph or higher by Wednesday morning are North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. By Thursday morning, the strong winds will reach Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan before moving off the East Coast by early morning Friday.

In addition to brutal winds, the cold front will usher in lake effect snow. According to the NWS website, lake effect snow occurs when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the relatively warmer Great Lakes. Trapped moisture rises, forming clouds that produce 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour or more.

NWS meteorologist Cody Snell told Newsweek that light snow will move ahead of the cold front, and then heavy lake effect snow will begin in Michigan on Wednesday. Strong winds could bring snow bands into interior Michigan.

In some places, winds could gust as high as 50 mph in parts of Michigan and in the higher elevations of the central Appalachians when the storm shifts east on Thursday, Snell said. Strong winds could create blizzard conditions with any falling snow or snow that is already on the ground.

The forecast has prompted NWS meteorologists to issue a winter storm watch for Michigan, New York, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio.

“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” the NWS office in Gaylord, Michigan, warned.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.”