US weather: Storm ‘size of UK’ to bring Thanksgiving nightmare amid tornado warning

Arctic air thrown into southerly gusts responsible for the recent unseasonable heat will drive a ‘very potent storm’ across southern and central states.

A belt of wind and rain strengthened by deep atmospheric instability, stretching thousands of miles through the United States, threatens widespread chaos.

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Jim Dale, social commentator and US weather correspondent British Weather Services, said: “This is a very large region of storms building over central and southern US states.

“It is around the size of Great Britain and will bring very unstable atmospheric conditions that will bring heavy rain, wind and thunderstorms, and there will also be the risk of tornadoes through the coming days.

“The main risk of storms will be from Monday to Wednesday, and while things may calm down for Thanksgiving itself, there is likely to be travel disruption for the getaway.”

The storm will plough eastwards through Monday hitting Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and the Rockies, experts warn.

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Plunging temperatures further north will also bring the risk of ice and snow over the hills and mountains.

Winds will sweep central regions through the next three days with heavier rain forecast for mid-Atlantic States.

Weather Channel meteorologist Orelon Sidney said: “A very potent storm system is going to be crossing the nation.

“We are looking at places like Dallas, Kansas City to Omaha.

“You will also possibly see delays late Monday in eastern Texas, into the Mississippi Valley, due to strong thunderstorms.

“On Tuesday, it will be a mess from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast into New England.”

Wednesday is looking calmer, she added, although there will be the risk of snowfall across the west of the nation.

She said: “We are still looking at some wintry precipitation and possibly some rain on the coast, but overall, it’s not too bad.

People travelling through Utah could suffer delays on Thursday due to snow while thunderstorms will persist in Miami during Thanksgiving, she warned.

After a brief calm spell, a rush of cold from the north will follow the storm plunging the nation into a cold spell, forecasters warn.

Mr Dale, author of ‘Weather Or Not?’, said: “Thursday is not looking too bad, but in the run-up to the weekend, there will be the risk of something colder coming through from the north.”

People planning to travel at the start of the week could be in for a ‘bumpy’ ride, according to DFW Weather

A spokesman said: “If you are travelling on Monday, if you are going to East Texas to visit family or to Louisiana into Mississippi or even Arkansas, it could be a little bumpy there because there is going to be some scattered strong to severe thunderstorms.

“There is a little bit of snow the farther north you go.”