Blustery conditions, winter storm expected early next week

A cloudy weekend with snow showers expected Saturday and Sunday will be followed by a blustery start to next week, according to the National Weather Service, whose meteorologists predict a winter storm affecting the region beginning late Monday and continuing through Tuesday.

“We are probably going to see at least some snow, which will likely to lead to some accumulation,” said NWS meteorologist Zachary Yack, adding it is still too early to estimate snowfall amounts.

Gusty winds and a rain/snow mix could accompany the storm, whose driving system is currently over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, Yack said. The weather system likely will move into the Great Lakes region in the coming days and “could bring accumulating snowfall and could have an impact on travel,” he said.

As to its timing or its potential impact on rush hour traffic, Yack and his fellow meteorologists will continue to track the storm and offer more specifics the closer it gets.

“The main thing is stay up to date on the forecast,” he said, “because things are probably going to change over the next few days.”

To that end, he recommends residents seek updates from reputable sources including the NWS and local meteorologists.