US faces a week of extreme weather, including snowstorms and flooding
A conveyor belt of extreme and powerful weather systems is expected to sweep across the United States this week, bringing snowstorms to the center of the country and heavy rains and flash flooding to the Northeast, forecasters warn.
“It’s a pattern where we can see relatively strong storm systems moving eastward from the western U.S. across the country over a period of several days,” said Greg Carbin, chief of the National Weather Service’s Forecast Operations Division, Sunday.
That pattern, he said, “produces a combination of winter weather, but also severe storms and wet weather.”
The Plains are experiencing snowstorms.
Blizzard warnings have been issued for parts of the Central and Southern Plateau through Tuesday.
A snowstorm is expected to destroy parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour will create “heavy snowstorms with whiteouts,” forecasters said Monday.
The snow is expected to make travel extremely dangerous, if not impossible, and weather observers suggested anyone traveling take a winter survival kit as wind chills will dip below zero.
In the Midwest, up to a foot of snow could fall in certain areas. forecasters said.
“A variety of hazards are expected with this next storm system,” Mr. Carbin said, adding that power outages were likely the result of high winds and heavy snow. “Travel may be impossible in some parts of Central America as we head into the week.”
The Weather Service said the storm was expected to move across the middle Mississippi Valley into the upper Great Lakes Tuesday evening.
Heavy rain and flooding are likely in the northeast.
Heavy rain of five to ten centimeters is expected in the northeast on Tuesday.
Snowmelt from a weekend winter storm that brought a foot or more of snow to some parts of the East Coast could add to runoff and increase the risk of flooding. said meteorologists.
“The associated heavy rainfall will cause numerous areas of flash flooding,” the weather service said. “In addition, many streams may overflow, potentially affecting larger rivers.”
Forecasters identified a large area around Philadelphia where significant river flooding is likely. In total, weather experts predict at least 19 rivers flooding will occur in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Forecasters say flooding is also possible from as far south as Richmond, Virginia, to as far north as the Catskills in New York.
There is a risk of tornadoes on the Gulf Coast.
The Gulf Coast will see an increased risk of severe thunderstorms Monday night through Tuesday morning, with frequent lightning, high winds, hail and isolated tornadoes, the state said. Weather service.
Significant river and flash flooding is likely through early Wednesday for the central Gulf Coast and eastern states.
Rain and snow will fall in the Pacific Northwest.
Rain and snow are expected to fall in the Seattle area on Monday and Tuesday Weather service.
The weather service has reported warnings for winter storms and snowstorms for the Olympic and Cascade Mountains above 600 meters. For areas under a blizzard warning, the forecast calls for snow accumulation of up to 100 cm and wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
Referring to the storm system in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Carbin said, “It’s a little uncertain, but this storm looks to bring rain and wind to the East Coast, and possibly snow inland, by the weekend.”
Derrick Bryson Taylor reporting contributed.