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ATLANTA — As we ring in the new year, severe storms and flooding will be hitting some of the same areas ravaged by tornadoes just two weeks ago, and some parts of the Midwest will be looking at their biggest snowstorm of the season so far.
"Both winter weather and severe weather possible to kick off the new year this weekend," the Weather Prediction Center said in its forecast discussion.
As a cold front pushes its way into spring-like warmth all week over the southern states, it will help fuel strong to severe thunderstorms across the area.
"There is a moderate risk of excessive rainfall and an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi Valleys from Saturday into Sunday morning," the WPC also said.
The weekend is also forecast to start off with measurable snowfall and an icy wintry mix that are expected to cause widespread hazardous travel conditions on New Year's Day from the Central Plains to the Great Lakes.
Another round of severe storms
On the warm side of the front, ample moisture will help support storms capable of all severe weather hazards including large hail, damaging winds, flooding, frequent lightning, and tornadoes.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Saturday declared a State of Emergency due to severe rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes and strong winds across the state.
"It is devastating that we are once again experiencing severe weather just weeks after the deadly tornadoes hit Western Kentucky. Sadly, some counties have been affected by both of these events," Beshear said in a press release.
"We will continue to monitor the weather and provide needed updates. Everyone be aware, stay safe and seek shelter when advised."
Central Alabama, including the cities of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, are under a tornado watch until 10 p.m. CST according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Severe storms are expected to develop through the afternoon and evening.
As they move through central Alabama, these storms have the potential to produce tornadoes, some of which could be strong, noted SPC. Additionally, these storms may produce damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and large hail.
The SPC also issued a tornado watch for portions of southeast Arkansas, northern Louisiana and central Mississippi until 8 p.m. CST.
Portions of northern Alabama, eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, and southwest Virginia are also under a tornado watch.
Storms developing in these areas have the potential to produce damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph, SPC said. Storms in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi have the potential to produce hail nearly the size of golf balls.
Flooding will also be a major concern, especially across Kentucky, where cleanup is still ongoing from the tornadoes that ripped through the western part of the state nearly three weeks ago.
Flood watches are in effect from eastern Oklahoma all the way through West Virginia.
Widespread rain totals of 1-3 inches are expected from western Arkansas to western Pennsylvania. Kentucky could see the highest amounts, up to 4 inches through the weekend.
Given that the ground is already saturated across Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, flooding and flash flooding are very possible, forecasters said.
New year, new (colder) weather
After an incredibly warm December for much of the U.S., the new year may bring the first prolonged taste of winter for some states.
This could be the first significant snow event of the season for the Midwest, with widespread snowfall accumulations of 4 inches possible from eastern Kansas to Lake Michigan.
Heavier snow bands could result in even higher amounts of 6-8 inches or more along the Iowa/Missouri border and northern Illinois, resulting in widespread travel disruptions.
"Saturday morning, mountain ranges such as the Cascades, Sawtooth, Wasatch, and both the central and southern Rockies can expect 1 to 2 feet of snow with totals exceeding 3 feet in the highest elevations of Utah and Colorado," the WPC explained.
You can't have snow without cold, and there will be a major drop in temperatures this weekend.
Wind chill alerts are in effect for over half a dozen states across the northern Plains as subzero temperatures are forecast, with wind chills possible down to 45 degrees below zero.
"The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes," the National Weather Service said, referring to areas of Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas.
As the arctic air continues farther south and east it will bring plummeting temperatures to some cities that have not yet felt winter's chill.
Saturday, Memphis will go from highs around 70 degrees with thunderstorms down to highs in the mid 30s on Sunday, with some snow showers possibly mixed in.
How cold will it be in your city?
The Dallas-Fort Worth area, which has set numerous high temperature records in the past two weeks, will also have high temperatures on Saturday in the low 70s, but by Sunday, high temps will drop to the upper 30s.
"The strong cold air advection behind this front will usher in the coldest temperatures of the season by far," the NWS office in Dallas/Ft. Worth said.
Did you say cold? Why not play some hockey? The Winter Classic outdoor game traditionally played on New Year's Day will be in Minneapolis this year, and it's going to be a cold one.
The high temperature on Saturday is only supposed to reach -2 degrees but will be even colder when the game begins at 7 p.m. EST with a downright frozen temperature of -5 and a wind chill hovering around -20 degrees.
It could go down as the coldest outdoor NHL hockey game in history if those temperatures pan out.
