DES MOINES, Iowa - A powerful Pacific Ocean storm just off the coast of Washington State has the potential to bring heavy rain, snow, and strong winds into the Midwest this week, although it is now unlikely that the worst of the storm will hit Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois.
We're being careful to say the Midwest track is one possibility with the storm, and there is still a chance the storm will slide south, but it is considered not likely.
The chance of severe weather is difficult to predict accurately several days in advance, in fact the National Weather Service Severe Storm Prediction Center says there is not enough certainty yet to predict the path of the storm for Thursday.
Meteorologists at AccuWeather are saying even blizzard conditions might develop in some areas.
If it does, by Wednesday there could be snow in Wyoming and Colorado, a mix of rain and snow in South Dakota and Western Nebraska, and heavy rain in Eastern Nebraska, and across Iowa, and Illinois.
By late Wednesday into Thursday wind, rain, and maybe some snow flurries will stretch across the southern edge of the storm from Omaha, through Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and into Chicago. The heaviest rain and snow is more likely for far northwestern Iowa and to the north.
The map, above, shows strong winds moving into the Midwest from the Northwest on Monday, perhaps up to 60 mile an hour winds in the worst of the storm. The National Weather Service map, below, shows the powerful Pacific Ocean storm moving into Washington State Saturday.