Major Storm System Will Pack Risks of Hail, Flooding, and Tornadoes

The storm that forecasters have been warning about for days is already living up to the hype. The powerful cross-country weather event is unleashing damaging winds, heavy rain, snow, and more as it moves from west to east. Here is the latest heading into what is expected to be the peak of activity late Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Week of Wild Weather Gets Started with Windy Conditions on Monday

Millions of Americas are going to be impacted by a massive storm that is roaring across the country to start the week. The system began to take shape on Monday over the Rockies, whipping up winds as it churned to the east. While the northern flank of the system will feature snow and the potential of blizzard conditions, the southern side of the system will deliver severe thunderstorms and all of their associated impacts.

Winds were the big story on Monday for much of the central U.S. A level 3 out of 3 extremely critical fire weather risk was issued for parts of eastern New Mexico and over into western Texas thanks to the high winds that paired with the parched landscape. Local officials are warning that this wildfire risk will persist on Tuesday as the winds refuse to ease.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instructed emergency personnel throughout the Lone Star State to be ready for severe storms as well as critical wildfire risk on Tuesday. Crews are ready to take action should the conditions deteriorate in the hours ahead. For example, over 200 firefighting personnel and a battalion of rescue boats and National Guard helicopters are standing by ready to help if needed.

The powerful winds and the dry land have already combined to produce deadly blowing dust events in the past few days. A collision in Arizona over the weekend killed four people on Interstate 10 on Saturday. The multi-vehicle pileup near the town of Tonopah was blamed on a dust storm that reduced visibility to near zero.

The potent winds will continue to trigger blowing dust in the days to come. Portions of two interstates in southern New Mexico were forced to close on Monday due to dust storm events.