A spring storm intensifying on Wednesday in the Midwest is expected to bring blizzard conditions to the region and may also spark wildfires in dry areas stretching from Texas to the southern High Plains. This deep low-pressure system is following closely behind a recent powerful storm that tragically caused over 40 fatalities across the country. Meteorologist Paul Ziegenfelder predicted heavy snowfall in the Central Plains before the storm moves through the Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes by Thursday, potentially leading to blizzard conditions with snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour and wind gusts exceeding 50 mph. The areas most at risk for blizzard conditions are from northern Kansas to southern Minnesota, where near-zero visibility could make travel extremely hazardous. Additionally, residents in El Paso, Texas, experienced a dust storm on Tuesday that reduced visibility and prompted warnings to avoid driving. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of up to 101 mph in the region. The storm also brings a “critical risk” of fire weather to the Southern High Plains on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued an “enhanced risk” of severe thunderstorms in parts of the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys and the Upper Great Lakes, with the potential for hail, multiple tornadoes, and the possibility of extremely powerful EF5 tornadoes with winds exceeding 200 mph.
