A powerful, coast‑to‑coast storm is barreling across the United States, delivering hurricane‑force gusts that are expected to touch down in more than 30 states by the end of the week.
The system is pushing out of the Pacific Northwest, where last week’s heavy rains amplified damaging floods in Washington, and is now heading into the Northern Plains and Rockies on Wednesday, where winds between 50 and 70 mph are forecast. Those gusts are also amplifying power outages that were already triggered by the flooding in the state early in the day.
The strongest winds measured were 71 mph at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Puget Sound and a 138‑mph gale on Mount Hood, Oregon. Throughout Washington, more than 350,000 customers were without power, and another 200,000 households in Oregon were affected.
As the storm moves eastward, the high winds could cause delays at airports as holiday travel picks up.
From the west, the storm will spread a mix of heavy rain, strong winds, and some snow as it continues across the country through the end of the workweek.
Wednesday – High winds hit the Northern Plains and Rockies
On Wednesday, the low‑pressure trough is set to deliver gusts of 50 to 70 mph across much of Montana, as well as parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Isolated gusts could even reach 80 to 90 mph. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories across Montana through the day.
Temperatures will be cold enough for snow, and when combined with the strong winds, conditions could become whiteout, presenting challenges for drivers in the region.
In Colorado, the potent gusts prompted the NWS to issue Fire Weather Warnings across parts of the state, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Pueblo. With the Rockies blowing and the dry air, any sparked fire could spread rapidly. The system is expected to leave the Northwest by Wednesday night.
Thursday – Possible whiteout driving in the Upper Midwest, rain over the Mississippi River valley
On Thursday, the main low‑pressure center will hug the U.S.–Canada border while a fast‑moving cold front pushes south. Over 50‑mph gusts and snow will remain the main concerns for drivers and travelers by air across the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa. Early‑morning rain is expected to shift to snow by the afternoon across the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Michigan, creating potential whiteout conditions into the evening.
Meanwhile, the cold front will bring rain to areas further south in the Midwest, the Mississippi River Valley, and parts of the South. This rainfall may help melt the snow that fell after last week’s intense winter storms, which blanketed cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Southern Missouri, Arkansas, and the Tennessee Valley should see rain by Thursday evening, and the storm could cause delays at many airports across the central United States.
Friday – Lake‑effect snow confined to the East Coast, a washout from Maine to Florida
The final leg of the storm will reach the East Coast late Thursday night and continue into Friday, as the cold front sweeps through the region. The low‑pressure system will stay well within Canada, which keeps the coldest air and most snow to the north. However, lake‑effect snow is expected in regions off Lakes Erie and Ontario and in the interior Northeast. Heavy rain and strong gusts could affect air travel at some of the country’s busiest airports.
Friday morning may also see a widespread washout spanning from Maine down to Florida. The rainfall could trigger isolated flash flooding across northern New England due to runoff from snow‑covered terrain. NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood risk for a strip covering northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Further south, warm air may allow for the development of severe thunderstorms over Kentucky and Tennessee. This storm aligns with NOAA’s long‑range outlook from last month, which warned of an active start to meteorological winter driven in part by the La Niña climate pattern.
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