A cross-country tornado snow blitz threatens 100 million Americans with the ‘most severe’ storm outbreak of the year.
‘Dangerous, damaging and life-threatening’ weather conditions spanning half a million square miles will smash the US into mid-month.
Severe weather will pick up ahead of the weekend as rafts of warnings are issued for winter storms, blizzards, 70mph gales and floods.
Western states are first in the firing line while southern and central regions battle desert winds and wildfires.
Some parts could see up to seven feet of snow
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AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnoswki said: “Dangerous, damaging and possibly life-threatening conditions will occur in dozens of states.
“This may unfold to be the biggest severe weather and tornado event of the year so far in an area spread over 500,000 square miles and home to more than 100 million people.
“Powerful wind gusts will be the most common cause of tree, power line and property damage from the thunderstorms that erupt.”
The storm will be one of several strengthened by a raging jet stream and ideal ‘dynamics’ for severe weather.
Shifting winds rising through the atmosphere will drive vicious thunderstorms and tornadoes, experts warn.
AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: “What this storm lacks in moisture, it is going to make up for with a lot of ‘dynamics’, and this means a lot of wind energy in the atmosphere.
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“A dip in the jet stream is strengthening, and it is also tilted from northwest to southeast and that means all the energy is on the eastern side.
“There is also a directional wind shear, and that means a change in wind direction with height, and this supports rotation which then supports thunderstorms which can produce tornadoes.”
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Tornadoes spawn from powerful ‘supercell’ thunderstorms – vicious electrical storms wielding intense energy.
Rayno said: “There are going to be damaging winds with these thunderstorms, and they are going to be very fast moving.
“But because of that changing wind direction with height, I am afraid there are going to be tornadoes on the ground, and I can easily see two dozen or more on the ground in this area.”
Residents are warned about localised damage, including power outages
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The US National Weather Service (NOAA) has warnings in force across the west of America for winter storms, high winds, flooding and gales.
A spokesman said: “Heavy snow and powerful wind gusts between 40 and 70 mph below will create dangerous to potentially impossible travel conditions.
“Heavy snow above 5000 feet and high winds will cause widespread hazardous travel over much of the southern Intermountain West and Rockies into Friday.
“Periods of heavy rain could cause flash flooding, including shallow debris flows across sensitive burn scars or isolated rockslides, as well as hazardous travel due to ponding of water and slick roads.”
Some parts could see up to seven feet of snow with eastern Atlantic coasts braced for impact at the weekend.
AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines said: “We predict between two and four feet of snow above 5,000 feet, with seven feet [possible] Wednesday through Thursday.”