Major storm brings severe weather threat

Breakfast Brief
Major storm brings severe weather threat

A powerful storm is set to move across the central U.S. today, bringing the risk of severe storms and winter weather. Make sure you stay weather-aware. The Breakfast Brief is published daily, Monday through Friday, at 5:00 a.m. Eastern time.

The WeatherRadar shows a powerful storm moving across the central part of the country, bringing multiple hazards, including severe storms, damaging high winds and the threats of flash flooding and blizzard conditions.

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Our severe threat broadens today as low pressure drives a strong cold front rapidly eastward across the Lower Mississippi Valley, Mid-South and Gulf Coast region. An enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) of severe weather extends from the Arklatex down to the central Gulf Coast where there will be concerns for very strong damaging winds, tornadoes, and some large hail.

Severe storms may impact Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans today. Other cities at risk for severe weather include Dallas, Little Rock, Ark., Shreveport, La., Memphis, Birmingham and Mobile, Ala. The most significant risk of strong tornadoes extends across northern and central Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwest Alabama. A flash flood threat will also overlap many of the areas at risk of strong storms.

The cold side of this storm also brings the threat of blizzard conditions. After bringing 1 to 2 feet of snow to the Rockies, this same storm will spread a swath of heavy snow and very strong winds across the central High Plains to the upper Midwest. Snow totals will range from 2 to 8 inches, but gusty winds will lead to blizzard conditions across parts of eastern Colorado and Nebraska.

These same gusty winds will also lead to an extreme fire threat across New Mexico and Texas. The WindRadar shows gusts over 50 mph in cities like San Antonio and Austin, Texas.