Strong Winds on Tap for Much of the Plains States Through End of Week

Gusty winds coming in ahead of an advancing storm from the western U.S. will raise the risk of wildfires across the southern Plains beginning on Wednesday. Here is what you need to know about this potentially dangerous situation.

Potent Winds Gearing Up to Unleash Across Plains

A massive cross-country storm system has already fired up across the West Coast. This storm is going to move to the east throughout the week, whipping up winds in the process. While most of the central U.S. will get in on this wind action, the threat of brush fires and dust storms will be the greatest across the southern Plains.

The intensity of this storm will bring the high winds to almost a million square miles of the country in the coming days. The strong winds will pair with the warmer temperatures and the parched vegetation to support the development and the spread of wildfires.

This is the same weather maker that is set to dump several feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada after unleashing rainfall measured in inches in many areas of California. After menacing the West Coast during the middle of the week, the storm will also be responsible for raising the chances of severe weather in the central and southern U.S. beginning Friday.

The system will continue to grow and intensify as it moves to the east. This strengthening will increase the wind field.