A powerful cross-country storm is set to unleash a barrage of weather hazards across the United States this week, bringing everything from torrential rain and mountain snow to tornadoes, wildfires, and even impacting the visibility of a total lunar eclipse.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn of a significant severe weather outbreak across the central and southeastern US on Friday and Saturday, following a period of heavy rain and snow in the West.
The storm will begin by drenching Southern California with heavy rain on Tuesday, posing a risk of localized flooding. A second, more widespread storm will deliver 1-2 inches of rain across coastal California and southern Oregon Wednesday through Thursday.
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Mountain regions will see heavy snowfall, with 2-4 feet expected above 5,000 feet, and potential for up to 7 feet in some areas.
As the storm moves eastward, powerful winds will create a dangerous fire risk across the Southwest. Wind gusts of 30-50 mph, combined with dry conditions, will elevate the risk of wildfires Wednesday and Thursday. The danger will escalate on Friday, with gusts reaching 40-70 mph, particularly in southeastern New Mexico, western Texas, and southwestern Oklahoma. The Texas Panhandle and southwestern Oklahoma face an “extreme risk” of fires.
The clash between warm, humid air and cold air from the Rockies will trigger severe thunderstorms across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi starting Wednesday. However, the largest severe weather outbreak will occur on Friday and Saturday.
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AccuWeather predicts a “moderate risk” of severe thunderstorms across 12 states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee. Tornadoes, large hail, flooding, and damaging wind gusts up to 100 mph are possible. The most intense storms are expected in the Southern states.
The storm will also impact viewing conditions for the total lunar eclipse late Thursday night into early Friday morning. Poor visibility is expected across the West Coast, Rockies, and northern Plains. The best viewing conditions are anticipated from Texas to the Ohio Valley and in southern Florida.
On the northern side of the storm, blizzard conditions are expected across parts of the Rockies and Upper Midwest on Friday and Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions.
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