New Winter Storm Warnings Announced for 15 States as 5 Inches of Snow, 50 mph Winds Approach

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the National Weather Service announced that a new winter storm is expected to bring a additional snow and harsh winds to several U.S. states.

"A replenishment of arctic air spreading into the Great Lakes and the Northeast is supporting a period of light snow across the Mid-Atlantic early this morning. The snow should taper off by daybreak but another patch of light snow and wintry mix is expected to move across North Carolina from west to east later today through tonight as the low pressure wave will take some time to move through the region," the NWS said, adding that "light snow will be moving into the Great Lakes on Thursday, with the arrival of snow showers and possibly snow squalls over the upper Great Lakes by early on Friday, signaling the arrival of the next intense surge from arctic air from Canada."

15 States Bracing for Snow and Cold

According to research from the National Weather Service, states bracing for additional snow or an "arctic blast" through this weekend include Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. That doesn't mean there will be a ton of new snow, though. Weather experts are expecting a dusting, up to five inches, but even that can be disruptive when combined with the snowfall that these areas already have.

As for wind, on Friday, Feb. 6, gusts of 30-40 mph are possible from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. By Saturday, Feb. 7, winds of 50-55 mph are expected for areas of the Northeast and New England.

Even sunny Florida is in line for a winter change. By Friday morning, Feb. 6, "the cold air will make it all the way down the Sunshine State where 30s to 40s will be common, with below freezing temperatures returning to the Florida Panhandle," the NWS said.

Elsewhere, a low pressure system is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms across the South and Southeast. " The cold front trailing southwest from the low pressure center will steadily advance these showers and embedded thunderstorms from west to east across the Gulf Coast this morning, and then across much of the Southeast today into tonight," the NWS said.

Relief is on the Way, Weather Experts Say

For those tired of the snow and cold, the good news is that warmer weather is expected soon. According to the Climate Prediction Center's 8 to 14 day forecast, from Feb. 11 through 17, expect above normal temperatures throughout the majority of the United States.

The Climate Prediction Center's map for mid-February shows above normal temperatures everywhere except the far West, including California and the most western areas of Nevada and Arizona. The Center's longer range forecast, one to three months, predicts average weather for the majority of the United States, to boot.

So, the wait for warmer weather is almost over. Don't expect it to be balmy and hot yet, but the Arctic air is working its way out of the United states, at least for now.