Colossal Storm System Targeting U.S. Could Be 'Worst Of 2022'

ACROSS AMERICA — A massive storm system could bring thunderstorms, tornadoes, severe flooding, and blizzard conditions to multiple U.S. states next week, marking a tumultuous start to spring in many parts of the country, according to a new AccuWeather forecast.

Next week, the brewing storm system could affect just about every state from the Rockies to the Atlantic coast, AccuWeather meteorologists say, and could pose a significant risk to lives and property.

It could also mean significant ground travel, shipping, and airline delays, according to AccuWeather.

"Next week has the potential to bring not only the most significant storm of March but perhaps the entire year so far considering the duration and all of its impacts combined," AccuWeather Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said in a report. "This could end up being the worst storm of all of 2022 if the system and its impacts reach the maximum potential."

Here's what parts of the country could be in for next week:

Rain And Thunderstorms

The worst time during which parts of the country could see increased severe weather and tornado risk is late Monday through Tuesday night.

AccuWeather forecasters are predicting the first severe thunderstorms to erupt Monday afternoon and evening in central and eastern portions of Texas and Oklahoma. Storms will then progress eastward Monday night into parts of Arkansas and Louisiana.

Meanwhile, rain and thunderstorms could also threaten parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas on Monday.

On Tuesday, the greatest threat of severe weather will shift from Arkansas and Louisiana to Mississippi and western Tennessee. The storms may then move farther to the east, sliding into Tennessee and Alabama on Tuesday night.

Flooding

The storm could bring a massive amount of rainfall to much of the eastern half of the nation. In fact, some areas could see 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts possible in northeastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma to central Alabama, much of Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and the southern portions of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana from Monday to Wednesday.

The heavier rainfall is likely to produce flash urban and small stream flooding, AccuWeather forecasters say.

Blizzard Conditions

The colder half of the system could bring an all-out blizzard to parts of Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, northern New Mexico and the Nebraska Panhandle, forecasters say.

Snow will likely ramp up over portions of the central and southern Rockies by Sunday night, but the peak of the storm in terms of snowfall and wind intensity is expected to occur from Monday to Tuesday.

By mid-week next week, heavy snow and potential blizzard conditions could expand farther north and east over the Plains and Upper Midwest toward the middle of next week