Winter storm warnings are in place for parts of 14 states as meteorologists predict a "multiple hazard storm" in many parts of the U.S., including blizzards, tornadoes and flash flooding in places.
The National Weather Service issued warnings for Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin, cautioning about difficult travel and whiteout conditions.
Forecasters say a snowstorm will develop over the central and southern Plains on Monday before moving into the Midwest into Tuesday. A heavy, wet snow will also develop in the interior Northeast Tuesday afternoon and night.
"Bursts of heavy snow may accumulate up to two inches in an hour, and result in hazardous travel," the NWS said.
It also warned that a "ferocious blizzard" from New Mexico into Nebraska with winds as high as 70 miles an hour will make travel "extremely dangerous to impossible."
Blizzard warnings are in effect for southeastern Colorado, northeastern New Mexico, the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, as well as western Kansas and far southeast Nebraska.
Meantime, portions of the Gulf Coast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic could experience flash flooding.
"Widespread and potentially significant river and flash flooding are likely
for the central Gulf Coast and Eastern U.S. through early Wednesday," the NWS said. "Significant coastal flooding is likely, especially on the Mid-Atlantic coastline, including tidal rivers and bays."
Officials are warning people to prepare for power outages, as widespread wind gusts of 50 mph or higher are likely in the eastern Gulf Coast, Central
Appalachians, much of the East Coast and New England.
The NWS said there is also a risk of severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes from southeast Texas across the central Gulf Coast Monday afternoon into early Tuesday morning.
"Very strong and damaging winds as well as a few tornadoes will be the main threats," the service said.
The storm will move over the Middle Mississippi Valley to the Upper Great
Lakes on Tuesday evening. Heavy snow is expected to continue over parts of the Middle/Upper Mississippi Valley, while moderate snow will likely fall into parts of the Upper Great Lakes. Snow will also start over parts of the
Northeast on Tuesday afternoon into the evening, the NWS said.
A second significant storm system hitting the Pacific Northwest is also expected to bring snow and severe weather conditions to the Central US later this week.
Heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions are expected Monday across Washington and the Oregon Cascades, which could see "several feet" of accumulation before the storm continues on.
"The storm system is forecast to dig across the Western U.S. through Thursday and reach the Plains late in the week. People in the Plains and Midwest should prepare for another winter storm," the NWS said.