A series of powerful major weather systems is moving across the United States this week, bringing “extremely dangerous” blizzard conditions in the middle of the country, widespread damaging winds across the East, tornadic storms in the South, and “significant” flooding in the Northeast. Forecasters warn.
“It's a pattern where we could see relatively strong storm systems moving from the western United States across the country to the east over the course of several days,” Greg Carbin, chief of the National Weather Service's Forecast Operations Branch, said Sunday.
This pattern “produces a mix of wintry weather, but also severe storms and wet weather,” he said.
The plains experience snow storms.
Blizzard warnings have been issued for parts of the central and southern high Plains through early Tuesday.
In Cimarron County, Oklahoma, emergency management issued a civil emergency Monday afternoon, telling residents to shelter in place due to blizzard conditions. All roads inside and outside the governorate were closed.
The storm is expected to sweep parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Wind gusts reaching and exceeding 70 mph in some cases will create “severe blizzard conditions with falling snow,” forecasters said Monday.
Wind gusts exceeding 70 mph were reported in Texas and Oklahoma Monday afternoon.
The snow is expected to make travel extremely dangerous, if not impossible, and weather observers suggested that anyone traveling should carry a survival kit in the winter, when the wind chill will drop below zero.
Snow in the Midwest could reach up to a foot in some areas. Forecasters said.
“A variety of risks are expected with the incoming storm system,” Mr. Carbin said, adding that power outages are likely due to strong winds and heavy snow. “Travel may be impossible in some parts of the central United States as we enter the week.”
The weather service said the storm was expected to move over the central Mississippi Valley into the upper Great Lakes region Tuesday evening.
Heavy rains and floods are likely in the northeast of the country.
Widespread rainfall of two to four inches is expected Tuesday across the Northeast.
Melting snow from a weekend winter storm that brought a foot or more of snow to some parts of the East Coast could contribute to runoff and increase the risk of flooding. Meteorologists said.
The Meteorological Authority said: “The accompanying heavy rains will lead to flooding in many areas.” “Furthermore, many streams may be flooded, which could affect larger rivers.”
Flooding is also likely from as far south as Richmond, Virginia, to as far north as the Catskills in New York, according to meteorologists.
There is a risk of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.
On the Gulf Coast, there is an increased risk of severe thunderstorms Monday night into Tuesday morning, with frequent lightning, strong wind gusts, hail and some tornadoes, according to the NWS. Weather service.
The threat is moving east, bringing with it the threat of hurricanes from Florida to North Carolina on Tuesday.
But it's not just hurricanes that worry forecasters.
Widespread winds of more than 50 mph are likely in the Eastern Gulf Coast, the Central Appalachian region, most of the East Coast and New England, meteorologists said. They warned residents to prepare for power outages.
Rain and snow will fall in the Pacific Northwest.
Even before the East Coast storm can leave the country, the next storm will already be causing dangerous weather in the Northwest. Rain and snow are expected to fall in the Seattle area on Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service Weather service.
The weather service posted winter storm warnings and the first blizzard warnings in more than 10 years for the Olympic and Cascade Mountains above 2,000 feet. For areas in the blizzard warning, forecasts called for snow accumulations of up to 40 inches and winds of up to 60 mph.
Referring to a storm system in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Carbin said: “It's a little uncertain, but it looks like this storm will bring rain and wind to the East Coast, and possibly snow inland” by the end of the week.
Derek Bryson Taylor Contributed to reports.
