By Allison Chinchar and Haley Brink, CNN
A major storm system is bringing early season snow, heavy rain and extreme thunderstorms to the US this weekend and into early subsequent week.
The storm begins in the western US this weekend, bringing with it the first important snowfall of the season to the Intermountain West.
“The stretch of unusually warm and dry October conditions will come to an abrupt end today as a potent cold front brings wind, rain, significant mountain snow, and much colder temperatures with a hard freeze,” the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City said Saturday.
Winter storm warnings and winter climate advisories are in place throughout eight western states on Saturday the place 1 to 2 ft of snow is forecast for elevations above 7,000 ft. This heavy, moist snow will lead to hazardous driving situations and decreased visibility.
This system has already introduced chilly air, rain and better elevation snow to the Pacific Northwest since starting on Friday, which has considerably improved the air high quality and fireplace containment throughout that area.
Beneficial for wildfires and air high quality
On Thursday, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively for the worst air high quality amongst the world’s major cities, in accordance to the website IQAIR.
Air high quality now has considerably improved throughout the Pacific Northwest thanks to a robust chilly entrance bringing latest rain and a wind shift over the final 24 hours.
In Seattle, extra rain fell on Friday (0.32″) than in the whole months of August and September.
While October data extra rain on common than August and September in Seattle, this summer season has been notably parched with lower than half an inch of rain from July via September, making that interval the driest on file.
A secondary system will probably be transferring into the Pacific Northwest starting Monday bringing much more rain to the area.
Several wildfires throughout the area have additionally been contained over the final 24 hours. On Thursday the complete giant, energetic wildfire depend throughout the US was over 50, however as of Saturday morning that quantity has dropped to 30.
For a lot of the western US excessive winds additionally will probably be a priority as this major storm system progresses eastward. That signifies that earlier than any rain or snow arrives winds may enhance the potential for fireplace unfold and blowing mud.
“The mild and dry conditions partnered with the high winds will also create fire weather concerns,” the National Weather Service in Denver said. “Blowing dust was added to the forecast grids to the east and south of a line from Denver to Sterling, [Colorado].”
Ten states are below excessive wind watches and warnings on Saturday the place winds may gust as excessive as 75 mph.
Severe storms for the Midwest
Clashing air plenty — chilly air settling throughout the West and heat air in the East — additionally will present the elements for extreme storms throughout the Midwest and Central Plains on Sunday.
Over 10 million individuals throughout the central US and Midwest are below the menace for extreme storms on Sunday. A Level 2 out of 5 danger for extreme storms is in place and contains Omaha and Lincoln in Nebraska and Sioux City in Iowa. A Level 1 danger is additionally in place and contains Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.
These extreme thunderstorms will probably be able to producing giant hail and damaging gusts Sunday night into early Monday. While tornadoes is not going to be the major menace, there is nonetheless a low chance for one or two in this area.
The rain, nonetheless, will probably be helpful for central US states corresponding to Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, which have been experiencing worsening drought situations over the final a number of weeks.
“Widespread beneficial rainfall is forecast Monday through Tuesday across the region. Average amounts of 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts are currently forecast,” mentioned the NWS workplace in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
One hundred % of the state of Oklahoma is below drought situations with Tulsa at the moment in the extreme category.
A Level 2 out 4 for danger for extreme rainfall was issued for parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, southwestern Missouri and northeastern Texas on Monday the place flash flooding will probably be attainable.
Since the space has been so dry, “the expectation is that the rainfall should generally be beneficial rather than problematic,” the Weather Prediction Center additionally famous.
The heavy rainfall will even be welcome throughout the Mississippi River Basin beginning Monday, which is coping with historically low water levels over the final a number of weeks.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
submit credit score to Source link
