A ‘spectacular’ but deadly storm fuelled by volatile ‘atmospheric rivers’ threatens a 1000-mile stretch of the United States with damaging gales and floods.
The huge tempest is forecast to smash into the west coast of America through the next 48 hours.
Torrential downpours and strong winds will hit the states of Oregon, California and Nevada, while further east, snow will fall in plunging temperatures.
The assault will be driven in part by a stream of atmospheric rivers heading in from the Pacific carried on low-pressure storm systems.
Satellite image showing major storm over US
Weather Channel
The colossal belts of moisture high in the atmosphere carry tonnes of water which are offloaded as rain on reaching land.
A spokesperson for the National Weather Service (NOAA) said: “An atmospheric river over the West Coast will bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds from southern Oregon to central California, pushing south into southern California into Thursday.
“Heavy snowfall is expected over the Sierra and Intermountain West through Thursday.
“The moisture will also create snow over parts of Northern and Central California.
“The Shasta and Sierra Nevada mountains will get heavy snow … into Thursday morning.”
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NOAA puts 1,000 miles of the west coast on flood alert
NOAA
Satellite images show the magnificent but menacing storm hurtling into the west coast of America.
The west coast from northern Oregon to southern California is braced for stormy weather until the weekend.
Meanwhile, a plume of warm air heading up from the Gulf of Mexico will push temperatures well above average for the time of year.
However, forecasters warn moist, tropical air meeting colder conditions over the United States will trigger another bout of storms.
Flooding likely through the weekend
The Weather Channel
Southern and Eastern states including Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota face storms later this week and into the weekend.
Jim Dale, US weather correspondent and senior meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “Warmth and humidity coming up from the Gulf of Mexico will bring the risk of further storms later this week and into the weekend.
“This is not going to be a small event, with several of these states facing heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and tornadoes.
“Sustained rain later in the week will bring the risk of flooding in parts.
“The unsettled conditions will be the result of warm air, which will push temperatures above average for the time of year, triggering instability in the atmosphere.”
Temperatures rise as warm air comes in from the Gulf of Mexico
The Weather Channel
Gulf-coast states face the greatest risk of flooding ahead of the weekend driven by relentless rain falling on dry ground.
Weather Channel meteorologist Kait Parker warned to brace for a ‘soaker’ as bands of rain move through Texas into southern states.
She said: “There is a bit of a soaker in the forecast across the south as we head into the weekend.
“We are going to see this start in Texas and then make its way towards the east, and as far as the focus of that moisture goes, it is coming right in off the Gulf of Mexico, so you know it is going to be a large influx of that moisture.
“There will be a lot of showers and possibly some thunderstorms, but for the most part, what we are looking at is the flood risk.”