An intense storm is expected to sweep across much of the US in the coming days, bringing heavy rain and snow in some places, along with possible tornadoes and blizzard conditions.
The rough weather will start in the Pacific Northwest and California over the weekend and hit the Plains by Tuesday. It could dump as much as a foot of snow in some areas by Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
From there it will likely continue toward the East Coast, but it is too early to predict its impact ahead of the holidays, said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist for the weather service.
“It is a multi-hazard system, a strengthening area of low pressure that could bring heavy rain in some places and snow in others,” said Mr. Chenard. “It’s a little too early to be specific about the end of the week, but by this Tuesday or Wednesday we’ll know more.”
The storm began as an energetic low-pressure front up near Alaska and is moving into and across the Pacific Northwest and California over the weekend and into Monday, according to the forecast.
Higher elevations will see heavy snowfall, he said, while coastal California will get hit with rain. The storm will sweep across the Rockies by Monday, bringing snow and some strong winds, Mr. Chenard said.
Overnight and into Tuesday, the storm will get ejected onto the Plains, bringing severe weather with it, according to Mr. Chenard.
Parts of the South, including Texas and Oklahoma, could see rain as early as Monday, he said. The rains will intensify Tuesday over Louisiana and Arkansas, bringing thunder and possibly even some tornadoes, he said.
The winter elements of the storm—snow and blizzard-like conditions—will affect areas from Wyoming to Minnesota, he said. South Dakota is likely to take the brunt of the high winds and heaviest snow, but there is the potential for several areas to get more than a foot of snow, according to the forecast.
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