CNN
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Warmth is set to melt parts of the U.S. after frigid temperatures over the weekend — but warmer air will bring the risk of icing and flooding in some states, and another winter storm is set to hit parts of the Plains and South through Monday.
A series of winter storms this month killed at least 79 people in 13 states. The death toll rose Sunday after The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported more weather-related deaths.
A series of fronts and low pressure systems are now working together to bring warm air and tropical moisture to the eastern half of the United States this week.
The Arctic cold will end, and cities will begin to warm up, with some seeing daily high temperatures rise by nearly 30 degrees over three or four days.
Temperatures will be well above average by the end of the week, with highs on Thursday reaching the upper 60s to lower 70s across the Southeast and temperatures in the 50s north as far as New York.
Overnight lows will rise to the 60s in parts of the Southeast, potentially breaking more than 100 records for the warmest daily lows.
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Some cities will see daily high temperatures increase by nearly 30 degrees over three to four days.
This warm air will finally oust the arctic blast that has been dominating the majority of the country's weather this weekend, but it will bring several potential hazards, including ice and flooding.
As moisture from the Gulf of Mexico moves north Sunday into Monday, it will collide with cold air still stuck over parts of the central U.S. to create ice and freezing rain over a wide area from Dallas north to Fort Wayne, Indiana.
“At the same time, the presence of Arctic air farther north will support mixed precipitation, sleet and ice with moisture arriving in Oklahoma and Kansas tonight,” the Weather Prediction Center said.
Many government transportation offices urged travelers to stay off the roads.
“Freezing rain is expected across much of the state overnight into Monday which could lead to possible icy conditions. Please avoid travel if possible or delay your trip,” the Missouri Department of Transportation said Sunday afternoon. Share on Xformerly Twitter.
In Arkansas, transportation officials warned that Monday's commute would be severely impacted by freezing rain late Sunday evening at the start of the work week.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. A winter storm warning is also in effect for some areas of Oklahoma.
Tulsa meteorologists warned of “significant ice” — between a quarter to a half inch of ice accumulation — along with sustained wind speeds of 15 to 20 mph and higher gusts.
“Power outages may be scattered due to a combination of ice accumulation and wind,” the Tulsa Weather Service office said in a forecast message.
The majority of areas facing an icy forecast will likely receive less than a quarter-inch of ice by Monday evening, but up to a half-inch of ice is expected in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. service.
As warm air continues its path north, freezing rain and sleet will turn to rain, creating a risk of flooding.
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About 37 million people are at risk of floods and heavy rains this week.
Nearly 37 million people are at risk of flash flooding and heavy rain this week from Monday through Thursday morning along the Gulf Coast and in the western parts of the Southeast.
There is a level 2 of 4 risk of heavy rain and flash flooding moving east over the week:
• Monday – East Texas
• Tuesday – Lower Mississippi River Valley
• Wednesday – Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee
• Thursday through Friday morning – Mississippi Gulf Coast and Alabama to Tennessee
Some areas will be under a level 2 risk of heavy rainfall for several days in a row.
Rainfall totals over the next five days could reach 5 to 6 inches with local areas receiving higher amounts.
The weather service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, said areas most affected by heavy rain were at little risk of severe weather.
