A powerful storm system is set to unleash strong winds across a vast swathe of the United States this week, impacting millions of people from the Rockies to the East Coast. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that these winds, with gusts potentially exceeding 90 mph, could cause widespread damage, fuel wildfires, and disrupt travel.
The storm, which is currently making its way across the country, will create a squeeze play between low pressure and high pressure, generating intense winds. This will exacerbate ongoing drought conditions in many areas, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.
READ: Sunshine Foundation Grants Magical Dream To Mississippi Child With Special Needs
“The winds in association with the storm can become strong enough to cause widespread travel disruptions,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Elizabeth Danco. “They also can knock over trees and bring down power lines across the eastern two-thirds of the nation through Wednesday night.”
After bringing some much-needed rain and snow to California and other areas of the Intermountain West over the weekend, the storm emerged east of the Front Range Monday night, kicking off the first day of widespread strong winds.
The winds will intersect with areas of severe drought in the Southwest and Plains, making for a veritable tinderbox that could result in large wildfires through Tuesday.
“There will be a high to extreme fire risk into early week, due to dry conditions combined with strong winds” said Danco. “Individuals are urged to practice fire safety and to adhere to any local burn bans and regulations.”
In addition, the gusty winds blowing over dry ground can lead to large areas of blowing dust. “Strong winds of this magnitude can kick up dust into the air which can cause reduced visibility and poor air quality,” added Danco.
READ: Mexico’s Sheinbaum Fires Back: Retaliatory Tariffs Loom As Trump’s 25% Duties Hit
On Tuesday, more than half of the country will be at risk for winds that can toss around loose objects, including trash cans, and impact travel, especially at airports and via high-profile vehicles. Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport are among the major hubs that will have to contend with these winds, which can cause a ripple effect for air travel nationwide.
The highest gusts, peaking at over 50 mph, will be found on the Plains and in a portion of the Tennessee Valley and in upslope areas of the southern Appalachians. Overall, portions of about three dozen states from New Mexico east to Georgia and north to Michigan can experience damaging winds on Tuesday.
These winds will be independent from those expected to result from thunderstorms during an expected large outbreak of severe weather on Tuesday and Tuesday night. Taking place from Texas into the Mississippi Valley and a portion of the South, localized winds in storms can be as high as 100 mph, warn AccuWeather severe weather experts; there can also be a few tornadoes.
The heavily-populated I-95 corridor and Eastern Seaboard will finally experience the gusty winds on the final day of this multiday episode on Wednesday, as the storm intensifies and moves into Canada, and air pressure falls quickly ahead of an approaching cold front. The winds appear they will be strongest near the coast in the Delmarva Peninsula and along the Jersey Shore, where gusts upwards of 60 mph can occur.
READ: Orlando Woman Sentenced To House Arrest, Millions In Restitution For Fraud Scheme
Gusty winds will also expand into more of the Upper Midwest midweek as heavy snow falls to the north and west of the storm’s center. This can lead to blizzard conditions and dangerous travel for several hours for a portion of Nebraska, eastern Kansas, northern Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Meanwhile, similar to the Southwest, a large part of the East has been abnormally dry for several months, with drought conditions in place. On Saturday, multiple brush fires, including a large one near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, raged in the East due to gusty winds and dry conditions as a cold front moved through. The risk of fires in the East will again be elevated both ahead of an area of rain on Wednesday and behind the next front on Thursday.
A quieter period of weather is expected to follow later in the week as the storm exits into Canada and the front off the East Coast, with generally lighter winds from the return of high pressure.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
