It is too early to make political projections, but we can project that the weather for Super Tuesday is shaping up to be as stormy as the politics have been.
A low-pressure area gathered strength in the Plains on Tuesday morning, with cold winter-like air to the north and warm, moist air to the south. Like the clash of political parties, the two air masses colliding will kick off several rounds of thunderstorms through the Ohio River Valley and the Southeast. This will bring heavy rain and strong winds, and could spawn a tornado or two. Voters in the Super Tuesday states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia may have to dodge storms as they head to the polls Tuesday.
It’s a different story to the north, where snow will fly Tuesday in a large swath across Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, which fortunately are not Super Tuesday states. The storm will push into New England on Tuesday night, but the wintry precipitation is expected to hold off until after the polls close in Bernie Sanders’ home state of Vermont and in Massachusetts.
Super Tuesday forecasts for states where weather could have an impact
(In alphabetical order)
• Alabama: Polls close at 8 p.m. ET
A few showers Tuesday morning will give way to thunderstorms later in the day. The northern half of the state will have the best chance for storms — a few severe — before the polls close.
• Arkansas: Polls close at 8:30 p.m. ET
Rain and thunderstorms will be widespread but will give way to dry conditions later Tuesday. If you want to stay dry, you may want to vote later in the day or early evening.
• Georgia: Polls close at 9 p.m. ET
A few showers will affect the state during the day. Strong storms should enter the northwest part of Georgia around sunset and could affect much of the northern half of the state, including Atlanta, just before the polls close.
• Massachusetts: Polls close at 8 p.m. ET
Winter weather advisories cover much of the state, but the good news is the wintry weather should hold off until well after the polls close.
• Minnesota: Caucus at 8 p.m. ET
The bulk of the snow Tuesday is falling south of Minnesota, but the extreme southeast part of the state is seeing some lingering snows that should be gone by later Tuesday.
• Tennessee: Polls close at 8 p.m. ET
Strong to severe thunderstorms will spread from west to east across the state Tuesday. Expect several rounds of storms with the potential for damaging winds and even an isolated tornado. There will be breaks between the storms, where you may be able to stay dry heading to the polls.
• Vermont: Polls close at 7 p.m. ET
All of Vermont is under a winter weather advisory, but those advisories do not take effect until 1 a.m. Wednesday, well after the polls close.