Winter Storm Lola will smash one side of the United States with blizzards while the other is set ablaze in near 100F winds.
Torrential downpours and snow will drive through the west coast ahead of the weekend on the tail of a deep low-pressure cyclone.
To the south, a tropical plume will push temperatures into the 90Fs, although bone-dry desert winds will turn parts of the region into a tinderbox.
The National Weather Service (NOAA) has alerts in force across the country, for rain and snow on the west and fires to the east.
Separate alerts warn of winter storms, gales and floods while a clash between tropical and Arctic weather systems whips up tornadoes.
An NOAA spokesman said: “A major low-pressure system will make headlines across eastern US through the middle of the week.
“Blizzard conditions are expected northwest of the low centre with several inches of snowfall combined with winds gusting at times from 40mph to 60mph.
“This will lead to whiteout conditions causing hazardous driving conditions.”
Up to two inches of rain is forecast around the zone of the low, with snow possible as far inland as Nebraska.
Elsewhere, temperatures will rocket to the south and the east amid a risk of deadly wildfires.
Forecasters say a “severe weather threat” will last through the week and well into the first half of spring.
Volatile winds will whip up explosive electrical storms while fuelling tornadoes and deadly night-time ‘nocturnal’ tornadoes.
This week’s storm has been named ‘Lola’ by The Weather Company, which said the main threat will come from blinding blizzards.
Weather Company meteorologist Robb Ellis said: “Winter Storm Lola is an impressive wind-maker as it moves out of the Central Plains into the Great Lakes and eventually into the Northeast.
“Very strong winds coupled with falling snow will lead to reduced visibilities which is why blizzard conditions are expected into parts of Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.
“Strong winds of more than 50mph will move out of the Central Plains, and the winds will occur well outside where we are expecting some of the heaviest snowfall.
“The heaviest snow is going to be in the higher elevations of the Rockies.”
Up to a foot and a half of snow could hit the worst-affected regions, he warned, with high winds driving a ‘whiteout’.
Weather Company meteorologist Sara Tonks said: “In areas of the Plains with lighter accumulations, high winds could lead to whiteout conditions, at times, as far south as northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.
“The combination of wet, heavy snow and high winds could lead to tree damage and power outages.
“With some lake enhancement, those totals could exceed a foot.”
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Torrential downpours and snow will drive through the west coast ahead of the weekend on the tail of a deep low-pressure cyclone.
To the south, a tropical plume will push temperatures into the 90Fs, although bone-dry desert winds will turn parts of the region into a tinderbox.
The National Weather Service (NOAA) has alerts in force across the country, for rain and snow on the west and fires to the east.
Separate alerts warn of winter storms, gales and floods while a clash between tropical and Arctic weather systems whips up tornadoes.
An NOAA spokesman said: “A major low-pressure system will make headlines across eastern US through the middle of the week.
“Blizzard conditions are expected northwest of the low centre with several inches of snowfall combined with winds gusting at times from 40mph to 60mph.
“This will lead to whiteout conditions causing hazardous driving conditions.”
Up to two inches of rain is forecast around the zone of the low, with snow possible as far inland as Nebraska.
Elsewhere, temperatures will rocket to the south and the east amid a risk of deadly wildfires.
Forecasters say a “severe weather threat” will last through the week and well into the first half of spring.
Volatile winds will whip up explosive electrical storms while fuelling tornadoes and deadly night-time ‘nocturnal’ tornadoes.
This week’s storm has been named ‘Lola’ by The Weather Company, which said the main threat will come from blinding blizzards.
Weather Company meteorologist Robb Ellis said: “Winter Storm Lola is an impressive wind-maker as it moves out of the Central Plains into the Great Lakes and eventually into the Northeast.
“Very strong winds coupled with falling snow will lead to reduced visibilities which is why blizzard conditions are expected into parts of Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.
“Strong winds of more than 50mph will move out of the Central Plains, and the winds will occur well outside where we are expecting some of the heaviest snowfall.
“The heaviest snow is going to be in the higher elevations of the Rockies.”
Up to a foot and a half of snow could hit the worst-affected regions, he warned, with high winds driving a ‘whiteout’.
Weather Company meteorologist Sara Tonks said: “In areas of the Plains with lighter accumulations, high winds could lead to whiteout conditions, at times, as far south as northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.
“The combination of wet, heavy snow and high winds could lead to tree damage and power outages.
“With some lake enhancement, those totals could exceed a foot.”
Find Out More...