Big Storm to Hit US with Snow, Floods, Possible Tornadoes
By Doyle Rice
Buckle up: A large-scale, multi-hazard storm will make life wet and miserable for the central, southern and eastern US Wednesday through Friday morning.
Heavy snow, a wintry mix, drenching rain with possible flooding and severe thunderstorms with possible tornadoes are all on tap, the National Weather Service said.
On the cold side of the storm, snow is likely Wednesday and into Thursday all the way from northern Texas to northern New England, AccuWeather said. The Weather Service said the greatest chance for disruptive snow extends from south-central Kansas through central Missouri, northern Illinois and into central Michigan.
Slippery, potentially dangerous travel and school delays or cancellations are possible in Kansas City, St Louis and Chicago, where up to half a foot of snow is possible.
On the northwestern flank of the storm, heavy snowfall rates could combine with strong wind gusts to create limited visibility and localized whiteout or even blizzard conditions, AccuWeather said.
The weather system has been named Winter Storm Miles by The Weather Channel.
11 states under a severe storm threat
The storm's warmer side will bring the risk of severe storms and tornadoes in the south-central US Wednesday evening through Thursday, and 11 states from Texas to Virginia are at risk for severe weather.
Violent storms are possible after dark on Wednesday, AccuWeather meteorologists warned, and all forms of severe weather are possible, including damaging wind gusts, large hail and isolated tornadoes.
The threat of severe weather is expected to shift eastward and into parts of the mid-South and Southeast into Thursday night, the Weather Service said.
Heavy rain also could lead to dangerous flash flooding from the southern Plains to the southern Appalachians Wednesday night into Thursday night, the Weather Service warned.
The severe weather will set up in part of the storm's warm sector, which will send temperatures rising to springlike levels in the 50s, 60s and 70s in the East and the 60s, 70s and 80s in the south-central states, according to AccuWeather.
The storm should be exiting the Eastern Seaboard by Friday, Weather.com said. Mainly rain is expected all the way up the Northeast coastline to Maine, given the milder air ahead of the system, according to Weather.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big storm to wallop US with snow, floods, possible tornadoes
