WEATHER BLOG: Rain & Winds

A major storm will bring severe thunderstorms, heavy snow and high winds to the Midwest, Ohio, and Tennessee Valley
Thursday as low pressure moves from near St. Louis to South Bend.

Heavy snow will accumulate from eastern Iowa to northern Michigan, with 12-20" expected in places. Winds gusting to over 60 mph will cause drifts of 3-5 feet in a few places. Farther south and east, strong thunderstorms -- some with strong winds and isolated tornadoes -- will move from the Tennessee Valley to the Appalachians by evening.

Over the Northeast States, high pressure will retreat from New England to eastern Canada as the aforementioned storm approaches. This will cause clouds to thicken Thursday.

After a dry start to the evening, rain will spread west to east across the region from 6 to 9 p.m. A few downpours will
occur. Winds will turn brisk. Winds just a thousand or so feet above the surface will be racing at around 60 mph. Mixing
of the air in the lower atmosphere will occur just ahead of a cold front, which will cause some of these very strong
winds to reach the surface in some places ... especially east and south of the city. Winds will briefly gust to near 45 mph
most places, and may hit 60 mph in a few spots near the Atlantic Coast. This may lead to some downed powerlines and
tree limbs.

Friday will be breezy with a mix of sun and clouds. Some late day flurries will occur north and west of the city while
heavier snow showers occur in the mountains of western Maryland.