A brutal winter storm, packing gusts of wind up to 80 mph, marched into the country’s interior on Monday, threatening to blanket the entire country with snow measured in feet.
About 15 million people in more than 12 states faced severe weather warnings or monitoring on Monday. Snowstorm or winter storm warnings have been issued for parts of Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska.
“The system will then stall across the central plains until Thursday, producing several days of heavy snowfall and blizzards, including blizzard conditions, and freezing rain that spreads over the upper Midwest,” said the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. said in its advisory.
Some of those states could see two feet of snow, according to the center. The Colorado Weather Service said the storm would likely arrive late Monday and continue through Tuesday, resulting in “whiteout conditions” and road closures.
By Monday night, snow had begun to fall in the northern mountains of Colorado, leaving roads icy and snowy, the Colorado Bureau of Meteorology said.
“Heavy snowfalls of a foot or more are likely in some areas, combined with high winds, which will make travel nearly impossible,” the forecast center warned.
The storm hit parts of Southern California with more than 7 inches of rain and swept the mountains of the Golden State with up to 5 feet of snow before hitting the heart of the United States. According to FlightAware.com, he had more than 6,000 flights delayed in the US on Sunday, and by Monday night he had more than 4,500 delayed flights.
Forecasters from AccuWeather expect more than a foot of snow, high winds and blizzard conditions to begin this week in the northern plains before significant amounts of snow can fall over the wider Midwest.
The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as “a blizzard and/or snow with winds of at least 35 mph and a reduction in visibility to less than a quarter mile” for at least three hours.
Two weeks of ‘terribly’ cold temperatures across the country
Storm forecast center warns “Seriously” cold temperatures May affect 48 states in the continental United States lasting through December 20th and December 26th.
The northern Rocky Mountains and northern plains will see temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, while the central plains could reach freezing temperatures, according to the center.
Temperatures in the southern and eastern regions, including the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic states, and the Northeast, are projected to reach single digits or 10 degrees Celsius, according to the center. Subzero temperatures are also expected in the Southern Plains and Southeast.
Severe thunderstorms, worse forecast for south central US
Snowless states will never have clear skies as severe thunderstorms can bring hail, 80 mph gusts and even tornadoes. Accuweather warned. A “significant risk” to life and property is expected to unfold in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas late Monday and Tuesday, AccuWeather said.
The dangerous system could then target cities as far south as Springfield, Missouri, Little Rock, Arkansas, Houston and New Orleans. Some of the same cities and towns at risk of severe thunderstorms were recently hit by a deadly tornado at the end of November.
AccuWeather meteorologist Lenny Duff said: “The dramatic contrast between the warm, moist air before the storm and the cool, dry air after the storm will create the right atmospheric conditions for a bad weather eruption. .
of the meteorological agency said Heavy snow and blizzard conditions could also be expected in the Mid-South, with “winter mixture” likely in the North-Central Plains and Upper Midwest on Tuesday.
Tornado warnings were issued for northern Texas and southern Oklahoma on Monday night as severe weather continued in the south central region, the Bureau of Meteorology reported. According to AccuWeather, this was the first tornado warning issued in the U.S. this month after his last warning on Nov. 30.
Heavy snow, rain: A powerful winter storm brings snow to the Sierra Nevada.Flood Watch Triggered in California
Plan ahead: Prepare for a blizzard and prepare your home
California hit by heavy rain and snow
More than 5 feet of snow covered the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to the Weather Service’s Forecast Center. Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties received more than 7 inches of rain, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
In San Luis Obispo County, roads were flooded and power lines were cut by high winds with gusts of up to 80 mph. About 30,000 customers lost power for hours over the weekend, according to PG&E.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a special weather statement early Monday morning for Oxnard, 60 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, warning of winds of up to 50 mph and half an inch of hail.
“Evacuate to a sturdy structure,” the statement said.
A delayed flight may result in compensation: If your flight is delayed, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline
Contributed by Associated Press
