Hurricane-force storms raging into April as temperatures rocket will spark a fresh threat of monster ‘haboob’ dust clouds.
Roasting, bone-dry gales whipping up plumes of desert sand have prompted warnings for low visibility and travel disruption.
Dust clouds, also known as ‘haboobs’, threaten southern states while the rest of the US braces for torrential rain, thunder and hail.
Temperatures rocketing into the 90Fs in parts will bring the added risk of wildfires, experts warn.
Torrential rain and thunderstorms to the east will bring the risk of flooding as rivers reach bursting point
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The National Weather Service (NOAA) has fire and ‘Special Marine’ warnings in force across Colorado, New Mexico, California and Arizona.
A spokesman said: “Widespread areas will observe gusts of at least 50mph with many areas reaching up to 65 mph, especially in central to eastern New Mexico.
“Widespread blowing dust will develop with near-zero visibility in dust-prone locations. In addition, dry conditions will increase the risk of fire growth.”
Following devastating weekend storms, widespread severe weather across shows no signs of abating through the start of April.
Torrential rain and thunderstorms to the east will bring the risk of flooding as rivers reach bursting point.
Gusts could hit 80mph as atmospheric volatility whips up churning tornadoes loaded with giant hailstones.
AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter said: “While severe thunderstorms will pose a significant danger in many communities across parts of the Central and Eastern US, the risk for life-threatening flooding may be the most widespread danger.
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Explosive weather conditions will peak mid-week with more than two dozen tornadoes forecast in prone regions
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“There is a risk of hail, isolated tornadoes, flooding downpours and damaging wind gusts, with the greatest risk spanning from the Florida Panhandle to Virginia.”
AccuWeather severe weather expert Guy Pearson added: “Towns recently hit hard by tornadoes and severe thunderstorms could unfortunately be impacted again this week.
“The surge of warmth and moisture from the Gulf will be pulled farther north on Wednesday, supporting the risk of severe thunderstorms that could spin up tornadoes, produce large hail and damaging wind gusts.”
Explosive weather conditions will peak mid-week with more than two dozen tornadoes forecast in prone regions.
Heavy ‘soaking rain’ to the east will trigger rising river levels and ‘significant’ flash flooding.
AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: ““We are concerned about the increasing risk of significant flash flooding with potentially life-threatening impacts from the Ozarks to western Kentucky and the Ohio Valley.
Dust clouds, also known as ‘haboobs’, threaten southern states while the rest of the US braces for torrential rain, thunder and hail
NOAA
“More than a foot of rainfall is expected in some areas, which can quickly trigger life-threatening flash flooding that requires dangerous swift-water rescues.”
AccuWeather’s Brandon Buckingham added: “There is the risk of multiple strong tornadoes to form near the Texas-Arkansas border to perhaps as far north as portions of southern Illinois and central Indiana beginning Wednesday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday night.”
Severe weather will trigger multiple hazards through the rest of the week and into the weekend.
Volatile weather will be supercharged by tropical temperatures from the south surging into the residual winter cold.
Jim Dale, US meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “There is a north-south split in terms of temperatures, and this is going to fuel the storms that will continue through the rest of the week.
“Along the frontal boundary, there will be an ongoing risk of thunderstorms, torrential rain and hail through the week.”
