An area of low pressure developed across Texas on Saturday, bringing a severe weather threat to the south-eastern US on Sunday and Monday. The depression is expected to develop into a nor’easter over the coming days. The storm is likely to dominate weather conditions across the eastern US and south-eastern Canada through the coming week.
After its initial development, the system moved slowly eastwards across the US Gulf Coast states on Monday. The US Storm Prediction Center forecast an enhanced risk (level three of five on its hazard scale) of severe thunderstorms, with a threat of hail, damaging straight-line winds and tornadoes across an area from eastern Texas to South Carolina.
On the backside of the low-pressure area, widespread heavy snowfall during the weekend prompted the issuance of winter storm warnings for parts of western Oklahoma and west Texas, with snowfall totals widely above 10cm (4in), and more local totals above 20cm (8in) in parts of Texas.
After its initial slow progress, the low-pressure area will begin to rapidly deepen into Tuesday, before deepening further and accelerating north-eastwards through Wednesday – to be centred across south-eastern Newfoundland by Wednesday evening. The nor’easter will bring heavy snow to parts of New England on Tuesday, and to the Atlantic provinces of Canada on Wednesday.
Within these regions, snowfall totals of 15-25cm (6-10in) are expected over a broad area, with totals above 30cm (12in) in places. Gusty winds will accompany the heavy snowfall, bringing a risk of coastal flooding. These winds will also combine with the heavy and wet snowfall to bring a risk of damage to trees and infrastructure.
It looks as though another warm week is ahead for parts of western Europe as temperatures rise. Temperatures are expected to peak around Wednesday to Friday before cooler air moves in over the weekend. Parts of south-west France and southern parts of Spain will see temperatures reaching 20-25C (68-77F), nearly 10 degrees celsius above the average expected at this time of year.
This is not such good news for those heading away skiing over the half-term holiday as many resorts are struggling this year. Although heavy snowfall at the start of the season helped many of the highest resorts, many of the lower altitude ski resorts have had little snow. About 24% of European ski resorts in parts of Spain, France and Switzerland are closed due to lack of snow.
