First cross-country storm of 2026 to bring rain, snow and severe weather threat to millions by late week
The cross-country storm moves into the Plains and Upper Midwest by Thursday. Severe weather threatens the Deep South Friday with a weekend washout possible across East Coast.
Late-week cross-country storm to bring heavy rain for millions, snow across Upper Midwest
After a relatively quiet start to the new year across the Lower 48, a developing storm system emerging from the West could impact much of the country beginning Thursday. Snow may develop behind the system from the Rockies into the Great Lakes, while ahead of it, a cold front could bring a renewed threat for severe weather across the Deep South on Friday. The storm is expected to soak the Northeast through the weekend.
The first cross-country storm of 2026 is brewing, and is expected to bring rain to millions, as well as the threat of severe weather to the Deep South and even some snow across the Upper Midwest.
MAN DIES IN CALIFORNIA AFTER BEING SWEPT AWAY INTO CREEK DURING FLOODING, TORRENTIAL RAIN
FILE - LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 03: Downtown Los Angeles was wet on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 as another storm passed through the Southland.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)
A developing storm out of the West could impact most of the country by the end of the week, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Stormy conditions will break out in the Southwest on Thursday as a cut-off area of low pressure, currently stalled over the Pacific, will be picked up by the jet stream and move into the Rockies.
HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER
A cutoff low is an area of upper-level energy that has become separated from the main jet stream, leaving it stuck in place until the jet stream nudges it forward or reabsorbs it, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
(FOX Weather)
This system is forecast to bring up to an inch of rain across much of the Southern Plains on Thursday, while snow will be possible across New Mexico, Colorado and north into Minnesota.
Exactly how much snow will fall remains an open question. The more cold air that is able to infiltrate south from Canada, the greater the snow potential.
Watch: Car drives through street flooding in Palm Springs during heavy rain on New Year's Day
Southern California saw a rainy start to 2026, with street flooding being reported across the region from heavy rain. The state is getting slammed with back-to-back storms bringing the possibility of more flash flooding.
As the storm system tracks east, a widespread area of rain will cover much of the Midwest beginning Thursday afternoon.
A low-end flash flood threat covers parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana Thursday and shifts over Kentucky and Tennessee Friday.
Farther south, a cold front will move ahead of the main area of low pressure into the Deep South, sparking the potential for severe weather.
(FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the main threat will likely be Friday, centered across the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, including parts of southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri, southwestern Kentucky, west Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
These storms could be capable of generating damaging wind gusts, hail and possibly tornadoes.
WHY DID THE SKY TURN PINK DURING A RECENT WINTER STORM IN IOWA?
(FOX Weather)
The final phase of these storms will dissipate across the Great Lakes and Northeast from Saturday through Sunday. Gusty winds and blowing snow are possible in the Great Lakes.
The cold front is expected to lift into the Northeast late Friday through Saturday providing showers and thunderstorms.
(FOX Weather)
States such as Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Maine, as well as others in the Northeast, can expect heavy rain through Saturday.
Conditions across the U.S. are expected to improve by late Sunday, with most areas drying out by the start of the new week.