A “spectacular” but deadly storm fueled by volatile “atmospheric rivers” threatens a 1,000-mile stretch of the United States with devastating storm surges and flooding.
The huge storm is expected to hit the west coast of America within the next 48 hours.
Satellite image showing a large storm over the United States
Weather channel
The massive moisture belts in the atmosphere carry tons of water that is discharged as rain when it reaches the ground.
“An atmospheric river over the West Coast will bring heavy rain and gusty winds from southern Oregon to central California, moving south into Southern California through Thursday,” a NOAA spokesperson said.
“Heavy snow is expected in the western Sierra and Intermountain region through Thursday.
“Moisture will also create snow over parts of northern and central California.
“Heavy snow will fall on the Shasta Mountains and the Sierra Nevada… through Thursday morning.”
Latest in the United States:
NOAA puts 1,000 miles of the West Coast on flood alert
Noah
Satellite images show the impressive and threatening storm heading toward America's West Coast.
The West Coast from northern Oregon to southern California is bracing for stormy weather through the weekend.
Meanwhile, a column of warm air heading in from the Gulf of Mexico will push temperatures well above average for this time of year.
However, meteorologists warn that moist tropical air meeting cold conditions over the United States will lead to another bout of storms.
Flooding is likely over the weekend
Weather channel
Southern and eastern states, including Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota, are facing storms later this week and into the weekend.
“The warmth and moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico will bring the risk of more storms later this week and into the weekend,” said Jim Dale, US weather correspondent and chief meteorologist at the UK Met Office.
“This will not be a small event, as many of these states are facing heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and tornadoes.
“Continued rainfall later in the week will bring a risk of flooding in parts.
He added, “The unstable weather conditions will be the result of warm air, which will push temperatures higher than their average for this time of year, leading to instability in the atmosphere.”
Temperatures rise as warm air arrives from the Gulf of Mexico
Weather channel
Gulf Coast countries face the greatest risk of flooding before the weekend due to heavy rains on dry lands.
The Weather Channel meteorologist Kate Parker warned to prepare for “extreme flooding” as bands of rain move across Texas into southern states.
“There's a bit of a dip in the forecast across the South as we head into the weekend,” she said.
“We'll see this start in Texas and then make its way eastward, and as far as the concentration of that moisture goes, it's coming right off the Gulf of Mexico, so you know it's going to be a big influx of that moisture.
“There will be a lot of rain and maybe some thunderstorms, but for the most part, what we're looking at is the risk of flooding.”
