A frenzied battle between Arctic blizzards and raging tropical heat threatens a two-month storm siege.
States left flattened by devastating hurricane-strength winds and relentless rain are warned to expect little relief through spring.
A powerful jet stream charged by a freezing Artic plume crashing against near-90F tropical heat threatens weeks of storms.
Jim Dale, US meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “We still have the ashes of winter to the north and are now seeing the very warm temperatures coming out of the south and these are the perfect ingredients for storms.
“It is a classic set up with the hot and cold air masses meeting and strengthening the jet stream in between to drive volatility in the atmosphere and the risk of storms.
“This situation is likely to continue through the next month or two months at the same intensity.”
Relentless storms sweeping the US through the past week have come loaded with tornado winds and thunderstorms.
AccuWeather meteorologists confirmed more than 50 tornadoes had been reported in the run up to the weekend.
Meteorologists say the strongest twister combination recorded in almost 30 years hit Arkansas at the weekend, with 200mph winds scoring ‘4’ on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EFS).
An AccuWeather spokesperson said: “Two tornadoes in Arkansas have been rated at least EF4 strength, something that hasn’t happened on one day in the state's history since 1997.
“Three EF3 tornadoes have also been surveyed so far in Alabama, Arkansas and Missouri.
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“The death toll has reached 42 as a result of impacts from tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, destructive wind gusts, and dust storms that led to multivehicle accidents on the highways.”
The storm intensity is expected to ease ahead of the weekend, although a fresh bite of the Arctic will unleash heavy snow and blizzards.
National weather forecasters warn in the direct firing line will be the Central Plains and regions surrounding the Great Lakes.
Blizzards powered by strong winds threaten to drive a cascade of snow dumping up to two inches per hour.
A National Weather Service (NOAA) spokesman said: “A deep area of low pressure will spread heavy snow across the Central Plains and then pivot through the Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes through Thursday morning.
“Snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour are likely to combine with wind gusts of more than 50 mph to produce blizzard conditions.
“The greatest risk for blizzard conditions will be from northern Kansas through southern Minnesota.”
People heading out over the next couple of days are warned to prepare for ‘extremely dangerous’ conditions on roads and transport networks.
AccuWeather meteorologist Dan DePodwin said: “Winter is far from over in parts of the Midwest, northern Plains, and northern Great Lakes.
“We expect a wintry blast of half a foot of snow or more on the northern side of this storm.
“Blizzard conditions are expected in some areas, creating extremely dangerous travel conditions with blowing snow and very limited visibility.”
Meanwhile, southern and central regions are battling fresh wildfires as bone-dry 80F winds score parched scrubland.
Lightning-charged thunderstorms threaten to spark multiple blazes starved of rain as the heat builds.
NOAA warned: “Strong gusty winds, low relative humidity, and dry ground fuelling the fire has prompted the Storm Prediction Centre to issue a Critical Risk of fire weather over northeastern New Mexico on Thursday.”
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States left flattened by devastating hurricane-strength winds and relentless rain are warned to expect little relief through spring.
A powerful jet stream charged by a freezing Artic plume crashing against near-90F tropical heat threatens weeks of storms.
Jim Dale, US meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “We still have the ashes of winter to the north and are now seeing the very warm temperatures coming out of the south and these are the perfect ingredients for storms.
“It is a classic set up with the hot and cold air masses meeting and strengthening the jet stream in between to drive volatility in the atmosphere and the risk of storms.
“This situation is likely to continue through the next month or two months at the same intensity.”
Relentless storms sweeping the US through the past week have come loaded with tornado winds and thunderstorms.
AccuWeather meteorologists confirmed more than 50 tornadoes had been reported in the run up to the weekend.
Meteorologists say the strongest twister combination recorded in almost 30 years hit Arkansas at the weekend, with 200mph winds scoring ‘4’ on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EFS).
An AccuWeather spokesperson said: “Two tornadoes in Arkansas have been rated at least EF4 strength, something that hasn’t happened on one day in the state's history since 1997.
“Three EF3 tornadoes have also been surveyed so far in Alabama, Arkansas and Missouri.
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“The death toll has reached 42 as a result of impacts from tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, destructive wind gusts, and dust storms that led to multivehicle accidents on the highways.”
The storm intensity is expected to ease ahead of the weekend, although a fresh bite of the Arctic will unleash heavy snow and blizzards.
National weather forecasters warn in the direct firing line will be the Central Plains and regions surrounding the Great Lakes.
Blizzards powered by strong winds threaten to drive a cascade of snow dumping up to two inches per hour.
A National Weather Service (NOAA) spokesman said: “A deep area of low pressure will spread heavy snow across the Central Plains and then pivot through the Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes through Thursday morning.
“Snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour are likely to combine with wind gusts of more than 50 mph to produce blizzard conditions.
“The greatest risk for blizzard conditions will be from northern Kansas through southern Minnesota.”
People heading out over the next couple of days are warned to prepare for ‘extremely dangerous’ conditions on roads and transport networks.
AccuWeather meteorologist Dan DePodwin said: “Winter is far from over in parts of the Midwest, northern Plains, and northern Great Lakes.
“We expect a wintry blast of half a foot of snow or more on the northern side of this storm.
“Blizzard conditions are expected in some areas, creating extremely dangerous travel conditions with blowing snow and very limited visibility.”
Meanwhile, southern and central regions are battling fresh wildfires as bone-dry 80F winds score parched scrubland.
Lightning-charged thunderstorms threaten to spark multiple blazes starved of rain as the heat builds.
NOAA warned: “Strong gusty winds, low relative humidity, and dry ground fuelling the fire has prompted the Storm Prediction Centre to issue a Critical Risk of fire weather over northeastern New Mexico on Thursday.”
Find Out More...