13 million people from Oklahoma to Maine under winter storm warning from 'dynamic' system
A powerful storm that threatened to dump snow, spark flooding and whip up tornadoes swept across much of the Midwest, South and Northeast on Thursday.
A swath of 1,500 miles from western Oklahoma to northern Maine was under some form of winter weather alert, with more 13 million people under a winter storm warning, the National Weather Service said.
The storm could bring up to half a foot to a foot of snow in the narrow stretch from the south-central Plains to the Great Lakes, the Weather Service said.
Severe thunderstorms with strong winds, hail and the potential for tornadoes could wreak havoc from Texas to Alabama, forecasts showed.
A tornado watch was issued for portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi Thursday afternoon, the Weather Service said. This means weather conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in the warmer areas of the storm are also expected, dumping between 1 to 2 inches from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes, the Weather Service said. The rains, along with frozen soil and melting snow, could spark flooding in the Ohio Valley and the Northeast, the Weather Service added.
Tracking the storm: When and where to expect snow, rain and possibly tornadoes
"This looks to be a rather dynamic storm with the potential for major impacts of several kinds, including heavy snow, significant ice accretion, flooding, severe weather and even a rather broad zone of strong winds," AccuWeather meteorologist La Troy Thornton said.
Band of snow from Oklahoma to Maine
The Weather Service said the storm was expected to bring a "quick-hitting burst of snow" across affected areas from Thursday morning into Friday.
The storm began overnight with sleet and freezing rain and fog along a swath from southern Kansas through the middle of Missouri.
The Weather Channel reported 9.3 inches of snow had fallen by midday in Kansas City.
Many schools, courts and other governments services, as well as sporting events, throughout the winter storm warning area shut down Thursday in anticipation of the storm.
Local weather forecast maps showed between 6 to 12 inches of snowfall in the heaviest areas of accumulation in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.
In northern Indiana, southern Michigan and far-northwest Ohio on Thursday evening, snow could fall at a rate of 2 inches per hour, the Weather Service said.
Before it exits into Canada on Friday, parts of western New York and the tip of Maine are also expected to receive some snow.
A significant winter storm will bring periods of heavy snow along with sleet and freezing rain to parts of the central and eastern United States. Hazardous travel is likely in areas that get heavy snow rates and gusty winds, or significant freezing rain. pic.twitter.com/wFQDdfCmQM
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 17, 2022
'Enhanced risk' for tornadoes in the South
The storm is also expected to spark severe thunderstorms that could bring a few tornadoes to the South, with parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas under an "enhanced risk" warning for severe thunderstorms.
That's level 3 on the 1 to 5 severe-storm risk scale.
"Major cities like New Orleans; Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; and even Atlanta are at risk for severe weather Thursday into the evening," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jessica Storm said.
Damaging winds and hail could also form, the Weather Service said. The weather service office in Jackson, Mississippi, predicted gusts up to 60 mph and hail the size of a quarter.
Thursday morning, the storm passed through Dallas, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds but no immediate reports of widespread damage.
⚡🌪Severe thunderstorms are likely from late this morning through this afternoon. The primary threats will be damaging wind gusts and tornadoes. A strong tornado is possible.
Stay close to a good source of weather info and know what action you will take if a warning is issued. pic.twitter.com/IOsOhrjmpu— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) February 17, 2022
Flooding risk in central US, northeast
Between the storm's snow and thunderstorm sections, heavy rain could spark flash flooding.
"An anomalously warm and moist airmass by mid-February standards will create conditions capable for periods of heavy rain," Weather Service forecasters wrote Thursday morning.
The flooding risks extends over parts of Illinois and Missouri, southern Ohio, southern Indiana and into the Northeast. Rivers, streams and other low-lying areas could see some flooding in the affected region.
"Flood Watches and a Slight Risk (level 2/4) of excessive rainfall has been issued" throughout the Ohio Valley and Interior Northeast through Thursday night, the Weather Service said.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter storm warnings affect 13 million people; snow, rain expected
