Winter Storm Causing "Ferocious Blizzard Conditions" Across The Country

A fast-moving storm is forecast to bring miserable weather to a large swath of the country in the coming days. On Monday (January 8), the storm was centered over the Four Corners region, bringing snow and high winds, making travel conditions extremely dangerous.

The storm is forecast to intensify as it moves east toward the Southern Plains, bringing heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions Monday night into Tuesday.

"A blizzard is expected in the Plains of northeast New Mexico, eastern Colorado, the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, western Kansas and southwest Nebraska. Wind gusts as high as 60-70 mph will create ferocious blizzard conditions with whiteouts. Travel will become extremely dangerous to impossible," the National Weather Service said.

The storm will continue to move east, bringing flooding rains and potential tornadoes.

"Severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts and tornadoes are expected from southeast Texas across the central Gulf Coast this afternoon into early Tuesday morning. This Enhanced Risk of Severe Thunderstorms shifts into parts of southeastern Alabama, northern Florida, and parts of the Carolina Piedmont/Coastal Plain on Tuesday. Very strong and damaging winds as well as a few tornadoes will be the main threats."

By Wednesday, the storm is forecast to start moving north up the coast.

"Widespread and potentially significant river and flash flooding are likely for the central Gulf Coast and Eastern U.S. through early Wednesday. Powerful onshore winds will lead to widespread coastal flooding along the eastern Gulf Coast and much of the East Coast. Significant coastal flooding is likely, especially on the Mid-Atlantic coastline, including tidal rivers and bays."