Next storm potential?

Before this morning, I had been trumpeting the fact that due to the weather pattern we're in we may see no major winter storms until mid-February. However, that may not be the case. I'll detail more about a potential winter storm next week later this afternoon.

Basically, the next storm has the potential to be the biggest winter storm of the season for us, if it takes the correct track. This is for a few different reasons (which I'll explain when I have more time), but the biggest reason is that since it will be coming straight out of the Gulf of Mexico, it will have a lot of moisture to work with. Some people will be measuring snow in feet, not inches, from this storm. Another big reason is that the associated low pressure with this system will likely be very strong, and strong pressure gradients cause high winds, which could mean blizzard conditions for some people that will be affected by this storm.

But, whom will be affected? It all depends on two high pressure systems that will form next week. One will form in the Upper Midwest, and one will form over the Atlantic Ocean. If the high pressure system in the Upper Midwest is stronger than the one in the Atlantic Ocean, then next week's storm will take a further east track, with the east coast getting the significant snowfall. If both high pressure systems are equally strong, then expect the significant snowfall to occure a little bit to our east, with Eastern Ohio getting another major snowstorm. However, if the Atlantic Ocean high pressure system is stronger, then look out, because the brunt of the storm will likely be hitting us.

It's too early right now to say which track will occur, but the potential is there for us to be ditching the ruler and getting out the yardstick to measure snow next week.