A colossal storm is brewing for the United States, AccuWeather meteorologists say. The storm system, which is expected to be as expansive as it is dynamic, is forecast to unfold as winter transitions into spring and will cover nearly the entire country with a variety of hazardous impacts including a widespread tornado risk, blizzard conditions, and serious flooding.
“Next week has the potential to bring not only the most significant storm of March but perhaps the entire year so far considering the duration and all of its impacts combined ranging from severe weather and tornadoes to flooding and snow and blizzard conditions as well,” said AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok adding,
“This could end up being the worst storm of all of 2022 if the system and its impacts reach the maximum potential.” At some point next week, the storm may affect just about every state from the Rockies to the Atlantic coast. A storm of this magnitude and scale is likely to bring significant risk to lives and property and could result in substantial ground travel, shipping, and airline delays, AccuWeather meteorologists say.
A strong low-pressure system is tracking eastward and will spawn a couple more rounds of severe thunderstorms packing threats of tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail Friday and Saturday across portions of the southern and eastern U.S.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued the following severe weather watches: A Tornado Watch is valid until 2 p.m. Central time for southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, including the cities of Andalusia in Alabama and Pensacola in Florida.
A Tornado Watch is valid until 7 p.m. Eastern time (6 p.m. Central time) for southeastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and southwestern Georgia, including the cities of Dothan in Alabama, Panama City in Florida, and Albany in Georgia.