Just when it looked like spring might finally be taking control, FOX Weather meteorologists Craig Herrera and Britta Merwin are warning that winter is about to make itself known again in a big way, especially across the northern tier of the country.
In their latest forecast, Herrera and Merwin said the backside of this week’s larger storm system will drag in cold air, snow, ice, and strong winds from the Upper Midwest into New England, creating a messy and potentially dangerous setup that could stretch well beyond one day. Their message was not subtle. Winter is coming back, and for some places, it could come back hard enough to create near-blizzard or even blizzard-like travel conditions.
That is the part of the forecast people in the North will want to take seriously. This is not just a matter of a few nuisance snow showers flying around behind a departing storm. FOX Weather described a much broader return to winter weather, one that includes plowable snow, significant icing, visibility problems, and then another storm waiting in the wings for the weekend.
And that is really what makes this forecast stand out. It is not one burst of late-season snow. It is a pattern that looks ready to keep piling on.
The Midweek Shift Brings Snow, Ice, And A Fast Return To Cold
Herrera said that while severe weather takes center stage farther south, the cold side of the same system will produce a very different kind of trouble from the Upper Midwest into the Northeast.
He explained that as the storm pushes east, the backside of it will pull in much colder air and create a zone of snow and blowing winds that will slow things down in a hurry. In northern Michigan and parts of Maine, he said, the setup also supports a wintry mix, with icing becoming a real concern.
That icing is not a side note. Herrera specifically pointed to portions of Michigan and Maine as places that could deal with significant ice, something that raises the threat of dangerous roads and power outages. Along the I-95 corridor ahead of the front, he said, precipitation is expected to be mostly rain, but behind the front conditions change quickly, and that is where winter starts taking over again.
Merwin picked up that point and added that the combination of wind and winter weather will create visibility concerns whether official blizzard conditions are met or not. In her words, it is going to be very hard to see anything in some of these areas.
That kind of warning matters because people often focus too much on snow totals alone. A storm does not need to drop extraordinary amounts of snow to become dangerous if the wind is strong enough to blow it around and sharply reduce visibility. For drivers, that can be every bit as serious as the snowfall itself.
The Upper Midwest Could Be Looking At Plowable Snow And Travel Trouble
FOX Weather’s forecast focused especially on the Dakotas, parts of the Upper Midwest, northern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as the zone where accumulating snow becomes a bigger issue.
Herrera said snow already moving through the Plains will expand in coverage across the Dakotas and back into parts of the Midwest, while decent winds pick up behind it. Merwin added that areas such as the U.P. of Michigan and northern Wisconsin could see a good swath of more than five to six inches of snow.
That is enough to matter on its own, but Merwin also called it a “plowable snow,” which is a useful phrase because it tells people this is not just decorative late-season snowfall that melts on contact. This is the kind of snow that has to be dealt with, cleared, and worked around.
She also noted that recent ice melt over Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan has already been underway, which makes this swing back toward accumulating snow feel even more jarring. In places like Marquette, she said, snow is already entering the forecast in the next 24 hours.
That contrast is one of the striking features of this setup. Some areas have been edging toward spring conditions, only to get dragged backward into winter travel hazards again. It is the sort of forecast that can catch people off guard, especially if they have mentally moved on from the heavier winter gear and winter driving mindset.
Even Chicago, according to FOX Weather, could see a few snowflakes. Herrera made clear that the city is not expected to get meaningful snow accumulation, but the symbolism of that shift still says a lot. Some places are moving from severe weather and warmth right back into flakes and cold in a matter of days.
Maine Faces A Serious Ice Threat And Power Outage Concerns
If the Upper Midwest looks snowier, northern Maine may end up dealing with one of the nastier pieces of the forecast.
Herrera and Merwin said the ice potential there is a major concern from Wednesday into Friday, with a winter storm watch in place for up to half an inch of ice in parts of northern Maine. That amount of freezing rain can do much more than make roads slick. It can bring down branches, strain power lines, and leave communities dealing with outages while temperatures sink back into the 20s.
Merwin was especially direct on that point. She urged people in the icing zone to make sure they have what they need in case the power goes out, asking the practical questions that matter most in these situations: Do you have food, and do you have a way to keep the house warm?
That is exactly the right framing for an ice storm. Snow can be disruptive, but ice can be paralyzing in a different way because it does not just slow roads down. It can also knock out the systems people rely on to get through the cold in the first place.
Herrera said icy conditions in New England may eventually give way to rain as Thursday evening wears on, but not before the region deals with a stretch of dangerous weather that could create real headaches for travel and utility service.
This part of the forecast deserves close attention because freezing rain often gets less emotional reaction than blizzard talk, even though it can be one of the most damaging winter setups. A half inch of ice is not a cosmetic event. It is the kind of forecast that can leave neighborhoods dark and roads nearly unusable.
The Weekend Storm Could Be Even Worse For Parts Of The North
As if the midweek round were not enough, Merwin and Herrera said winter has another shot lined up for the weekend, and this one may actually be the more substantial event.
Merwin described the weekend system as a winter storm that will slide across the northern Plains and the far northern reach of the Northeast, bringing gusty winds, snow, and colder temperatures. She said it is still a little early to pin down precise totals, but she was already confident that parts of northern Michigan could pick up a good half foot of snow from the first batch, with more to come over the weekend.
She then made the point even more clearly: the snow that falls during the week is basically the appetizer. The weekend storm, in her view, looks more like the full dinner.
That line works because it captures how this forecast is evolving. The first round is a legitimate winter event with snow, wind, and ice, but the second round appears capable of reinforcing and adding to the impact, especially in the U.P. of Michigan where Merwin said the weekend storm could pile more heavy snow on top of whatever falls first.
Herrera added that the weekend system has some notable ingredients behind it. He said the storm is coming in off the Pacific, but originates from the Gulf of Alaska, which means it is carrying very cold air along with meaningful moisture. That combination matters, because some fast-moving systems weaken when they do not have enough moisture to work with. In this case, FOX Weather suggested the weekend setup may have both the cold and the moisture needed to cause bigger problems.
Herrera also pointed to what happens by Sunday, when strong winds are expected to develop behind the low again. He said that anytime you have a strong pressure gradient with an area of low pressure like this, blowing snow becomes a serious concern, and visibility can drop quickly for anyone trying to travel.
That is why the blizzard talk enters the conversation. Even if the exact technical verification remains uncertain in some places, the practical travel impact may still feel blizzard-like, especially where heavier snow and stronger wind overlap.
The Bigger Story May Be The Temperature Swing
One of the most remarkable parts of the FOX Weather report was the sheer temperature swing tied to this pattern.
Herrera pointed out that areas such as Indianapolis were talking about severe weather and temperatures in the 80s at one point, only to stare down winter conditions again by early next week. Merwin echoed that point, saying the system will drag in a batch of cold air that many people had enjoyed a break from.
That kind of reversal is one of the reasons late-season storms can feel so disruptive. People are not just responding to the weather itself. They are also adjusting emotionally and practically to a season that seemed to be changing, only to have it snap back the other way.
And for a wider group of Americans than usual, that may be the real theme of the next several days. The severe weather story farther south is getting plenty of attention, and for good reason, but FOX Weather’s report makes clear that the northern side of the map has its own serious issues developing. Snow, ice, power outages, and dangerous visibility will affect a lot of people too.
That is why the phrase “say it isn’t snow” lands so well here. It captures the exasperation of the moment. A lot of people are ready for winter to let go. This forecast says it is not ready yet.
Winter’s Grip Is Back, And The North May Feel It In Waves
Taken together, Herrera’s and Merwin’s forecast paints a picture of a northern weather pattern that is becoming more complicated and more forceful than people might expect in mid-March.
The first wave brings snow and blowing winds to the Upper Midwest, with a wintry mix and dangerous icing in parts of Michigan and Maine. Then the weekend threatens to add another round of heavier snow, stronger winds, and colder air, especially from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes and the far northern Northeast.
That is not just a brief relapse into winter. It is a reminder that in March, winter can still come back with enough punch to create real travel trouble, knock out power, and put plows back to work.
FOX Weather’s meteorologists were clear about the practical takeaway. People in the icing zone need to think about outage supplies now. People in the snow zone need to think about visibility and travel. And everyone in the North should be ready for a sharp turn back toward colder, harsher conditions.
So yes, if you were hoping winter was finally finished, this forecast brings bad news.
According to Craig Herrera and Britta Merwin, winter still has a few more swings left, and the northern tier may be about to feel every one of them.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
