A monster storm system has made its way to the Central U.S. to kick off the second week of January. The storm will bring a potent ball of energy, traveling from the Western U.S. eastward into the Plains and then up through the Northeast by Wednesday.

Precipitation is expected from Texas to Nebraska and all affected areas east. Uncertainty remains on actual accumulation, but some areas could expect as much as 12 inches. But the wind gusts will be the true kicker, with some models calling for winds up to 60 mph.

Elsewhere, heavy rains and thunderstorms are forecasted, with as much as 3 inches expected for the Gulf and East Coasts. After this initial band of storms, a polar vortex is expected to visit this weekend and into next week, bringing deep arctic air to the western half of the U.S.

Read more on weather forecasts from DTN Meteorologist John Baranick here.