Hurricane-force winds, blizzard conditions, significant precipitation — and a "bomb cyclone" on the West Coast: Those square measure the dire predictions of weather forecasters, United Nations agency square measure warning Thanksgiving travelers to take care and inure delays as 2 powerful consecutive storms hit the western and central U.S. this week.
The National Weather Service's U.S. forecast map is draped in alarming reminder pink, purple and red, reflective winter storm warnings that square measure in impact from Calif. to Michigan. and therefore the inclementness is predicted to last: The winter storm warning announce by the NWS workplace in Las Vegas can stay in impact from five p.m. Pt Tues through four a.m. PT Friday.
The warnings come back as Mile-High City and different cities square measure already addressing significant precipitation from a winter storm that's touch the southern and central Plains region. The NWS workplace in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported obtaining quite twelve inches of snow by hour on Tues. however elevated areas west of Fort Collins, Colo., reported quite thirty inches.
That storm remains developing and is predicted to dump up to a foot of snow during a broad region by weekday because it moves from the Plains to the higher Mississippi vale, across the higher lake and into northern Pine Tree State, the NWS says. It adds that significant snow may have an effect on travelers at airports from Mile-High City to Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Despite those high snow totals, the strongest winter storm is within the way West, wherever the system is returning in from the ocean. it'll begin to hit OR and Northern Calif. by Tues night, the NWS says. It adds that what may be a record-setting storm system can doubtless develop into a bomb cyclone — which means the storm can intensify at a bizarrely speedy rate.
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"This low pressure system will likely undergo bombogenesis (pressure drop of at least 24mb in 24 hours) by late Tuesday afternoon," the NWS says, "at which point it will likely become a sub-980 mb low with hurricane force winds over the offshore waters!"
Blizzard conditions are expected in the mountains of southern Oregon and Northern California, with high waves and strong winds battering coastal areas as the storm comes in from the Pacific Ocean.
"Wind gusts are forecast to exceed 70 mph" near the coast of Oregon and Northern California, the NWS Weather Prediction Center says. By late Thursday, the Sierra Nevada range will likely see from 2 to 4 feet of snow.
"Portland's branch of the National Weather Service is recommending drivers take chains if they're moving through areas that might see snow," Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.
At lower elevations, strong winds and heavy rain could affect travelers at airports from San Francisco to Los Angeles and from Las Vegas to Phoenix over the next few days.
"Be where you need to be by 8-10 a.m. Tuesday morning, or wait until Wednesday afternoon" to travel, the NWS office in Medford, Ore., warns. But the office also adds that even after the worst of the storm passes, perilous conditions such as black ice could pose a threat through the end of the week.
As the storm moves inland from the West Coast, it could also bring "a flash flood threat across coastal Southern California from San Diego to Los Angeles," the NWS says, adding that the threat is especially acute in areas that have recently suffered wildfires.
In contrast to those imposing circumstances, the weather on most of the East Coast should be relatively quiet, the NWS says. But it also warns that strong winds will start to lash parts of the Northeast after the main storm moves off the coast of New England. Identifying a possible threat to the famous Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, the NWS warns, "Wind gusts to 40+ mph are possible across New York City on Thursday."
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Bomb cyclone