Key Points:
– Severe storms are forecasted to develop in the Southeast on Saturday night, spanning from East Texas through much of the Southeast and parts of the mid-South.
– There is an extreme ‘High Risk’ of flooding in areas of Tennessee and the Ohio Valley.
– Flood Watches have been issued, covering a span of over 900 miles from Arkansas to Pennsylvania.
– Snow accumulation is anticipated in around 20 states east of the Rockies over the weekend.
– Strong wind gusts ranging from 40-65 mph are expected in the Southeast on Saturday, extending to the Northeast on Sunday and continuing into Monday.
– A potent storm system will bring a mix of snow, rain, and severe weather to the central and eastern US this weekend, affecting a broad region.
– The Southeast is likely to experience dangerous storms from Saturday night into Sunday, with the primary threats being damaging wind gusts and possibly a few tornadoes.
– The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 5 severe storm risk, impacting approximately 5.3 million people in cities such as Memphis, Tennessee; Shreveport and Bossier City in Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
– Widespread heavy rainfall is expected in the Southeast into the Ohio Valley on Saturday into Saturday night.
– Potential rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches or more are possible, particularly in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Ohio, southern West Virginia, and western Virginia.
– A “extreme” level 4 flash flood threat rating has been issued by NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center for parts of northwestern Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky.
– High-risk flood days are a serious concern, as they are responsible for a significant portion of flood-related fatalities and damages.
– A Level 3 out of 4 risk for flash flooding expands into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, with the potential for significant flash floods due to heavy rain on already saturated ground.
– Moderate to major river flooding may occur this weekend in central and eastern Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and northern and central Tennessee.
– The storm system is expected to bring accumulating snow to at least 20 states east of the Rockies over the weekend.
– This weekend’s snowstorm is part of the same system that affected California earlier in the week, and it is projected to strengthen as it moves through the Northeast and into Canada, resulting in significant impacts in the interior Northeast and back toward Michigan.
A large area of the United States is bracing for a triple threat of severe weather conditions, including storms, flooding, and snow. The system is set to move across the country from the Gulf and the Atlantic. Snowfall is expected to begin on Friday in certain areas of the northern and central Plains, then spread eastward into the Upper Midwest on Friday night and Saturday, before reaching the Northeast from Saturday to Saturday night. Winter weather alerts have already been issued for portions of the Upper Midwest and Northeast, with a wide region forecasted to receive a minimum of 3 inches of snow.
Several cities are likely to experience significant snowfall, necessitating shoveling and plowing, including Minneapolis, Des Moines, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, Burlington, Boston, Worcester, Manchester, Portland, and Augusta. Additionally, snow accumulation is anticipated along Interstate 70 in the Midwest, parts of western Pennsylvania, as well as along much of I-80 in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In the Northeast, the most substantial snowfall is expected in central New York and central New England, where there is a possibility of over a foot of snow. A wintry mix, anticipated to transition to rain at the height of the storm, is projected along and south of I-84 and I-86 in New York, as well as the Connecticut and Massachusetts Turnpikes in New England. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., are expected to primarily experience rain.
Furthermore, strong winds with gusts ranging between 40-65 mph are forecasted to develop across the Southeast on Saturday before moving into the Northeast on Sunday and persisting into Monday. These sustained powerful winds have the potential to cause significant damage, such as downed trees and power outages.
