Tornado risks and powerful winds: Two-thirds of US could face dangerous gusts
A large winter storm will sweep through the majority of the United States on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing powerful winds, large hail and likely more than a dozen tornadoes.
Starting in Texas and heading east, the low-pressure system is expected to spread as far south as Florida and as far north as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, coming up just short of New York City, which may still be in for some thunderstorms.
“It is going to be a very, very windy time for the eastern two-thirds of the nation,’’ AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva said. “So basically from the Rockies all the way to the East Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday it could be pretty gusty.’’
Wind gusts in the most affected areas, figure to reach 60-70 mph and could approach 100 mph in some localized spots, likely resulting in downed trees and power lines that could cause blackouts, DaSilva said. The Southeastern U.S. figures to take the brunt of the impact Wednesday, but even locations at lower risk of severe weather, such as midwestern cities like Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis, could experience winds of 40 mph and above.
AccuWeather said the storm could impact up to 170 million people across more than 20 states from the southern Plains to the Midwest and East. The outlet expects major flight delays and cancellations to follow as the harsh weather hits airports near large population centers.
The National Weather Service said there will be an enhanced risk of “very strong damaging winds, tornadoes, and at least some areas of large hail’ for the meeting point of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas and on to the central Gulf Coast.
The service’s office in Forth Worth, Texas, warned of the upcoming severe weather overnight Monday into Tuesday morning and urged residents to prepare an emergency kit with essentials. The office also alerted of the “critical fire weather’’ in the Dallas area because of the high winds and low humidity Tuesday.
In the Kansas City office of the NWS, forecasts late Monday afternoon were “hammering home the potential for 60-70+ mph wind gusts” over parts of eastern Nebraska, Kansas and west-central Missouri, meteorologist Allan Curtis said.
DaSilva pinpointed northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and parts of Mississippi as probable landing spots for tornadoes through early Wednesday afternoon, in addition to being in the path of strong straight-line winds.
Through March 2, the U.S. had totaled 61 confirmed tornadoes this year, less than half the yearly average of 138 for that period. That figure is about to change, according to DaSilva, who said the number of twisters is less relevant than where and when they strike. Nocturnal tornadoes are particularly concerning because they may hit homes when people are sleeping and not ready to seek cover.
“It really only takes one,’’ he said. “If you get one really powerful tornado to go through a very populated area, people are really going to remember that. We just want people to be vigilant.’’
Weather experts across the nation say they fear the Trump administration’s government cuts that resulted in hundreds of employees leaving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the weather service, may increase the threat during these severe weather events.
“Recent terminations within the government workforce for science are likely to cause irreparable harm and have far-reaching consequences for public safety, economic well-being, and the United States’ global leadership,” the American Meteorological Society said Monday.
President Donald Trump and his senior advisor Elon Musk have looked to the Department of Government Efficiency to enact Trump’s signature campaign promise to reduce the size of the federal government.
Most weather service field offices already are understaffed, said James Spann, chief meteorologist for WBMA-TV in Birmingham, Alabama.
“If NWS products and services are reduced, we all suffer … especially during times of life-threatening weather,” Spann wrote in a social media post.
NOAA has said it’s committed to keeping Americans informed about dangerous weather. Spokesperson Scott Smullen told USA TODAY the agency “remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience.”
In addition to the probationary employees who were dismissed, a wave of senior weather service meteorologists retired Friday, and others left as part of the agency’s “Fork in the Road” plan that will pay them administrative leave through September.
Forecasters raise alarms about layoffs, budget cuts
New storm bringing blizzard conditions to Heartland, tornadoes to the South
A strengthening storm system will move across the country this week, bringing blizzard conditions to the Heartland and tornadoes and damaging winds to the South.
On Monday, the storm is focused on the Rockies and the Southwest, bringing mountain snow from Southern California to Colorado.
Meanwhile, there’s an extreme fire danger in New Mexico and western Texas. The combination of gusty winds up to 65 mph and relative humidity down to 5% will make conditions ripe to spread wildfires.
MORE: Evacuations ordered as 175 wildfires erupt across South and North Carolina
As this storm moves east, severe weather will break out across the South starting Monday night and Tuesday morning from Dallas to Oklahoma City.
Damaging winds and a few tornadoes will be the biggest threat.
On Tuesday, the storm will bring dangerous winter weather conditions to the Heartland.
A blizzard warning is in effect for Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.
Winter storm watches have been issued in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, where more than 6 inches of snow and near-whiteout conditions are possible.
In the South, severe thunderstorms are expected Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Strong tornadoes are possible in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.
Damaging winds over 60 mph will be possible during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans; Mobile, Alabama; and Birmingham, Alabama.
New storm bringing blizzard conditions to Heartland, tornadoes to the South originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
