A powerful storm system has wiped out the United States, bringing a dangerous mixture of harsh weather, including tornadoes, floods, heavy snow and strong winds, affecting millions from the West Coast to the East Coast.
“Depending on where you live, it's kind of a dangerous bag,” said Kendall Smith, a Fox meteorologist.
Fox Forecast Center has a breakdown of what you can expect in your area this week.
Inclement of bad weather in the south
Two separate disturbances are being caught up in the southwest, and could launch a severe storm on Wednesday.
The harsh weather threat on Tuesday appears to be the most important of the several days of events, the Fox Prediction Center said.
Expected threats include big hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. Tornado Watch has been issued for the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex through at least 11am CT, covering more than 10 million people in Texas, Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas.
Tuesday was also Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with officials from some parishes cancelling several festivals due to expected bad weather and strong winds.
The storm is likely to get caught up in a well-organized squall line as it explodes southeast on Tuesday night, the Fox Prediction Center said.
Storm lines may reconcentrate across the east coast all the way from North Florida to the mid-Atlantic Ocean under heating that day on Wednesday.
Blizzard's state, a stronger wind than the Rockies was expected, and then the plains
The Fox Forecast Center is tracking the powerful storm that developed on the Rockies late Monday and moved into the plains on Tuesday.
Tracking towards the Great Lakes by Wednesday could potentially set records of the lowest pressures observed in March.
The low-pressure system under development east of the Rockies is expected to provide significant moisture and lifting, creating a ripe state of heavy snow.
Mountainous areas can expect snow buildup that continues from Monday afternoon to Tuesday.
Heavy snow and strong winds can be seen in the Palmer disparity in Colorado and the region east of Denver.
Denver along the front range and nearby cities are mixed with rain and snow, but warm air can maintain much of the precipitation, like rain.
According to Fox Forecast Center, 60 mph winds per hour on plains up to 60 mph could combine with blizzards on Tuesday to cause conditions for blizzards, making it extremely difficult or impossible, particularly around interstate and southern regions in the 70 eastern and southern regions of Denver.
With strong winds, there is also the risk of widespread power outages.
The storm is beginning to affect the plains and the Midwest, bringing strong winds, rain, snow and perhaps some thunderstorms.
In the central plain, there are some winds that allow small h-wings and gusts, but the strongest storms should stay south, Fox Prediction Center said.
Winds are expected to last at 30-40 mph, with gusts of winds at 40-50 mph, and in some areas it could exceed 60 mph.
High wind alerts are available in more than 12 states in the central, south and eastern US states. The strong winds eventually arrive in Chicago and Milwaukee.
On Tuesday evening, as temperatures drop behind the storm, the rain shifts to snow. We expect to see 1-3 inches in most areas, but in some places, heavier strips of snow will allow us to receive more places.
Despite the wet nature of the snow, strong winds still cause blows and drifts, leading to reduced visibility and potential blizzards.
Late Tuesday, Nebraska Interstate 80 could be a dangerous drive from Lincoln to Omaha, and travel may not be possible.
Torrential rain, blown wind to shock the east
Most of the east can expect a washout on Wednesday as the storm center moves northeast. This system brings the possibility of rain, gusts of wind and thunderstorms as the cold front approaches.
Fox Forecast Center said it is likely to arrive in two waves. One is heavy rounding in the morning and one is heavy in the afternoon and evening.
Regions in southern New Jersey, Delaware and eastern Maryland are most likely to see enough instability due to stronger thunderstorms.
In the event of a storm, strong winds can cause the aloft to mix with the surface, pose the risk of damage to the gusts.
Outside of thunderstorms, the winds become gusts throughout the day, with 25-35 mph winds continuing, with gusts exceeding 40-50 mph.
The cold front will travel through Wednesday evening to end precipitation and guide dry air, the Fox Prediction Center noted. As frontal winds move, the winds can continue to make the northeasterly stronger all around.
The rainfall is not that high, and is expected to be 1-2 inches. Some of this rain could fall in a short period of time, which prompted the threat of low-end flash floods along the 95 interstate corridors.
The threat of extreme fires in the southwest
Hazardous fire conditions are predicted from parts of New Mexico to western and central Texas. Strong winds and extremely dry air combine to increase the risk of rapid wildfires.
According to Fox's forecast center, winds are maintained at 30-40 mph over a wide area, with some areas even stronger gusts of 40-60 mph.
At the same time, humidity levels drop when low 5-10%, causing the fire to start quickly and easily expand.
These conditions have raised fire hazard levels to extreme threats in areas such as Austin, San Antonio, Midland and Odessa in Texas.
Xcel Energy has begun shutting down power to around 140 customers in New Mexico's Tucancali region due to the ongoing fire threat.
