All About 'Heart Attack' Snow

In the week ahead, parts of the Northeast will see multiple chances for snow, and the southern Plains will also see rain and wintry precipitation develop.

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Meanwhile, the West will enjoy a break from the onslaught of recent storms, but wet conditions should return mid-to-late week.

Otherwise, much of the U.S. will see temperatures that are more like spring than the last month of winter.

Below, we take a closer look at what you need to know in the week ahead.

1) More Snow Ahead for Parts of the Northeast

Winter Storm Niko brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to parts of the Northeast last Thursday, and there will be two more chances for snow this week.

First, Winter Storm Orson is expected to hammer parts of New England to start the week.

Into Monday, an area of low pressure will strengthen near the New England coast. When this occurs, heavy snow and strong winds will develop, likely impacting much of eastern and northern New England.

(MORE: Winter Storm Orson Forecast)

Yet another bout of snowfall may affect the Northeast midweek. It appears New England and upstate New York will once again have the best chance for some accumulations.

2) A Storm in the Southern Plains

Record-high temperatures were reached in the southern Plains on Saturday, but a strong cold front has now moved through, bringing the possibility of wintry precipitation. Temperatures will drop from the 80s and 90s we saw on Saturday to the 30s and 40s for highs Monday in some areas.

Rain will change to a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain in parts of New Mexico, southern Colorado and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. This wintry mix may linger into Tuesday for some locations, as an upper-level low slowly progresses eastward.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

This prolonged period of precipitation will lead to light ice accumulations, along with some snow.

Most of the region, however, will see rain. This will be a welcomed rainfall in Oklahoma and portions of Arkansas and northeastern Texas, where drought conditions are occurring. 

Rainfall totals of up to 3 inches are possible in parts of northern Texas, while most of Texas, Oklahoma and the lower Mississippi Valley will see less than 2 inches of rain.

3) Break From the Storms in the West Until Midweek

Last week brought flooding and mudslides to parts of northern and central California and Nevada. The good news is that drier weather has returned and will persist into midweek for the West Coast. The break in the storms is due to an upper-level ridge that will divert the storm track farther north into Canada.

(MORE: Heavy Rain, Rapid Snowmelt Trigger Flooding, Mudslides and Dam Failures)

However, by mid-to-late week, a southward dip in the jet stream will allow the next low-pressure system to approach the coast, spreading rain and snow into the West.

A few showers may develop along the Pacific Northwest coast as early as late Tuesday. Rain and higher-elevation snow will begin to spread southward and eastward, reaching southern California and the Great Basin by Thursday night.

The chance for rain and snow will last through at least Friday for the West Coast and much of the inter-mountain West. This will be a fairly warm system, with snow generally falling at elevations above 6,000 feet.

Most areas from central California into western Washington will see 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, with higher amounts along the immediate Washington and Oregon coasts. Snowfall totals of more than a foot are likely in the higher elevations of the Sierra and Cascades.

4) It Will Feel Like Spring

An upper-level ridge of high pressure, along with lack of snow cover, will allow much of the U.S. to experience warmer-than-average temperatures for much of this week.

Early this week, above-average temperature will be found across much of the West, Midwest and South. Temperatures will be near average in the Northeast and colder than normal in the southern Plains, due to the upper-level low over the region.

Late week, warmer-than-average conditions will stretch from the inter-mountain West into the Plains, Midwest and lower Mississippi Valley. Meanwhile, temperatures will be near average for much of the East, as well as along the West Coast. 

(MORE: February Temperature Outlook)

The core of the anomalous warmth will be in the northern and central Plains into the Midwest, where highs will be 20 to 25 degrees above average. This translates into temperatures in the 30s and 40s in the Dakotas and upper Mississippi Valley, with 60s as far north as Nebraska.

For many locations, it will feel more like spring than winter, but widespread record highs are not expected this week.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Niko (PHOTOS)