Snow and wind alerts have been issued this week for 26 states from Kentucky to California, as a result of two storm systems sweeping across the country.
Parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Kansas, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming are under winter storm watches and advisories. Winter storm warnings are also in effect for this week's severe snowfall across the central Rockies and into the Plains.
Meteorologists say a foot or more of snow is expected to fall this week in regions of the Southwest and Northwest, including Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, where temperatures are also predicted to fall 10 to 20 degrees below normal.
The winter storm will develop near the Four Corners today and spread a swath of heavy snow northeastward, bringing blizzard conditions from the northern Plains to the upper Great Lakes Tuesday night into Wednesday as high winds and some thunderstorms spread across the southern Plains, according to the National Weather Service.
"The combination of heavy snow rates and strong winds gusting above 40 mph could result in near-blizzard conditions, especially for the Southern High Plains," the NWS said. "This will produce considerable blowing and drifting of snow, very low visibility at times, dangerous travel and possible impacts to infrastructure."
Hazardous travel is also expected further east across the Central Plains due to heavy snow rates and gusty winds possibly above 60 mph.
The NWS says much colder temperatures, falling well below normal levels and even near record lows, are expected across the Southwest later this week following the winter storm.
Meantime, heavy rain is expected across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Central Appalachians, the Tennessee Valley, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southern Appalachians, the Southeast and the Ohio Valley, beginning on Thursday. The main threat is flooding occurring across these regions.
"The Storm Prediction Center is highlighting chances for severe weather on Thursday from the Deep South to Ohio, as thunderstorms spark along and ahead of the cold front," the NWS said. "The greatest chances for over 2 inches of rainfall on Thursday and Thursday night currently exists from southern Mississippi to eastern Tennessee and the southern Appalachians, these regions may see the greatest risk of flash flooding as a result."
As winter weather ramps up this week, be sure to follow your local forecast for updates on alerts and guidance as conditions change.
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