In the coming seven days, tens of millions of Americans will be
in danger of extreme weather conditions
As an enormous storm advances nationwide, it brings with it potential hurricane-strength gusts, extensive inundation, snowstorm circumstances, and a conceivable surge of twisters.
According to meteorologists, the storm has the potential to affect all regions of the nation, starting with landfall along the Pacific Coast on Wednesday. As it progresses eastward, it will bring torrential rains and significant snowfall to California and other Western states.
National Weather Service office in Los Angeles
alerted about potential rock and mud slides.
By early Friday, the enormous storm will span almost all of the central United States, stretching from the Gulf Coast up to the Canadian border, posing risks such as blinding snowstorms, destructive gusts, unseasonably high temperatures, potential wildfires, hazardous dust storms, and possible tornadoes.
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Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, informed USA TODAY that the storm might rank as one of the most intense on record regarding low-pressure levels.
He stated that this will be an extremely important and powerful storm,” adding that the series of severe weather events is expected to cause power disruptions as well as transportation delays both on highways and at air terminals.
The prediction arrives several days following an extensive one.
The storm also traversed the entire U.S. last week.
, removing snow from the northern Plains and triggering tornadoes and wildfires in the South. Five fatalities related to those storms occurred in Nebraska and Mississippi.
The Western U.S. prepares for heavy rainfall and snowstorms.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm is set to reach the West Coast late Tuesday night, bringing intense rainfall across coastal areas of California starting Wednesday morning.
The meteorological department warned that Southern California faces an increased threat of flash floods and debris flows, particularly in regions affected by recent events.
surge of wildfires in January
San Francisco might experience significant rainfall on Wednesday as well.
As the storm moves eastward, it is anticipated to dump between 2 to 4 feet of snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains and cause extensive winds with speeds ranging from 40 to 70 mph, according to Kines.
On Thursday night extending through Friday, significant snowfall will blanket portions of the Rocky Mountains and extend into states like Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, where typically more snow falls during winters. Moving forward from Friday into the weekend, large sections of the Plains area face an increased likelihood of substantial snowstorms along with potential blizzard conditions as the storm intensifies, according to reports from the Weather Prediction Center.
These circumstances might result in travel disruptions and hazardous roads; however, they will also provide essential hydration to the area. “We require additional storms bringing substantial rainfall and high-elevation snow before the onset of the arid period, which is just around the corner,” as stated.
The senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, Alex Sosnowski,
in an online forecast.
Nearly 500,000 square miles vulnerable to intense thunderstorms.
By Friday, widespread severe weather alerts will cover much of the nation with almost five hundred thousand square miles stretching from Texas to the Dakotas facing potential “severe thunderstorms.”
according to AccuWeather
.
Kines expressed worries that this storm might lead to a “surge in tornadoes,” generating numerous whirlwinds stretching from the Gulf Coast all the way to the Midwest.
The primary intense weather condition anticipated involves extensive, destructive winds ranging from 65 to 75 mph, with potential gusts soaring as high as 100 mph. These powerful winds pose significant threats including large-scale blackouts, flight cancellations, tree uprooting, and wildfire propagation, particularly in the drought-affected areas of the Great Plains and southwestern parts.
On Saturday, the major storm will keep moving eastward, causing thunderstorms across Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, the Florida Panhandle, and western Georgia, as stated by AccuWeather. According to forecasters, these thunderstorms might decelerate upon hitting the Appalachian Mountains, potentially leading to flash floods in the Tennessee Valley region.
The Southwest is bracing for severe fire conditions and dust storms.
In the drier part of the storm, areas throughout the southwestern states might
cope with a resurgence of dust storms
along with “critical fire weather risk,” as strong gusts sweep across the area throughout the week.
According to the National Weather Service, the arid southwestern region won’t receive significant rainfall; instead, it will face low moisture levels coupled with strong gusts, which increases the risk of rapid spread of wildfires through the tinder-dry plants.
Places facing significant danger this week, particularly on Friday, encompass western and central Texas, southeastern Arizona, and southern New Mexico. Red flag warnings were initiated across these areas by the weather service starting Tuesday.
Aside from the danger posed by rapidly moving wildfires, the Southwest might also face severe dust storms. Recently, thick plumes of dust swept in by powerful gusts brought transportation to a halt, caused local enterprises to shut down, and prompted air quality warnings across Texas and New Mexico.
The East Coast will also face the impact.
The storm will move eastward towards the Atlantic Coast through Sunday and might affect multiple large urban areas.
Kines indicated that severe weather threats might extend as far as the Interstate 95 corridor, encompassing cities such as Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
“He stated that the eastern region of the nation won’t be overlooked,” noting that the precise outcomes remain unclear.
Potential record-breaking temperatures throughout the Central U.S. could occur.
Before the storm arrives, much of the nation will face higher-than-normal temperatures, with certain regions potentially breaking daily temperature records, according to Kines.
For instance, in Chicago, temperatures on Friday might climb into the higher 70s, coming close to the city’s record high for that date. Similarly, other cities in the Plains and Midwest regions like Kansas City, Missouri, and Minneapolis may also experience record-breaking highs.
In the meantime, Southern Texas might see temperatures reaching into the triple digits, significantly higher than its usual averages in the low 80s for this period of the year.
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
A significant storm is poised to bring flooding, blizzard conditions, and tornadoes across various parts of the U.S. this week.
