A ‘cross-country’ storm ploughing almost 3,000 miles across the United States threatens five days of torrential rain, gales, hail, snow and tornadoes.
The colossal cyclonic weather system will smash the west coast before heading to the Rockies and eastern states threatening weekend NFL fixtures.
The sinister ‘disturbance’ brewing in the northern Pacific will tap into energy left by a Gulf of Mexico heat plume which pushed southern states into the 70Fs.
It is expected to hit Washington first before reaching New Mexico and Colorado on Friday, Missouri and Arkansas on Saturday and the northeast by the end of the weekend and into next week.
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Weather Channel meteorologist Domenica Davis said: “We have a storm brewing for later this week and into the weekend that is going to bring a little bit of everything.
“We have a snow element, a rain element and the possibility of severe weather.
“We are talking winds, hail, possibility of tornadoes, is going to be down through the south.
“As the storm moves from the east, it is very widespread from the south all the way up to the north.
“On the far northern edge is where we could get some severe winter weather out of this.”
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North-eastern states will be in the firing line for snow, while to the south, heavy rain threatens flash floods, she said.
These areas will be in the firing line for a cold front as it charges through at the weekend whipping up strong winds.
Snow across the north-east and the Great Lakes could hold out into the start of the new week, experts warn.
Weather Channel meteorologist Chris Dolce said: “The storm will spread rain and mountain snow from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies as it enters the US.
“The track of the storm and how much of its moisture overlaps with colder air will determine what areas see wintry weather in the Midwest and western Great Lakes.
“Areas from the Great Lakes to the interior Northeast might see snow or rain changing to snow for a time through Sunday night before precipitation comes to an end.”
Storm moves in ahead of the weekend
The weather channel
A sweeping cold front will hit The Rockies later this week bringing wind and the risk of snow, according to The US National Weather Service (NOAA).
A spokesman said: “The cold front swings through the Rockies on Thursday and approaches the Plains on Friday, unsettled weather and gusty winds are set to return.
“Moderate to locally heavy snow is possible across the mountainous terrain of the Rockies, as well as into the central High Plains on Friday.
“Strong westerly and down-sloping winds may also prove to be hazardous across the northern and central High Plains for the end of the week.”
Heavy rain could hamper NFL games in eastern states at the weekend when the worst of the weather is due to strike.
Jim Dale, social commentator and British Weather Services’ US correspondent, said: “The rain could be thundery at times, and this could impact the NFL, particularly on Sunday.”