Dangerous winter weather: US cross-country storm unfurling

A massive winter storm is unfurling across parts of the US this week, bringing severe disruption to several states.

A very complex winter storm is rolling across parts of the States this week, interacting with cold arctic air diving southward out of Canada, and moisture streaming northward from the Gulf of Mexico.

The start of the winter storm on Tuesday 21st February saw snow reaching a line from Lake Tahoe to Milwaukee, covering around 2700 km and spanning seven states!

Large amounts of snow is expected across the northern Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes in particular where over 300 cm could accumulate.

In Los Angeles, the first Blizzard Warning in over 20 years was just issued by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard. Though this warning is largely in place for higher terrain surrounding the city above around 600m, rather than the city itself.

Over 30 below average high temperature records could be broken across the west of the US, due to the low pressure trough driving the storm deeper.

Whipping winds are also a big concern over the next few days, including wind gusts up to 50 mph in San Francisco. Winds could even gust over 70 mph in spots, creating the potential for power outages and hazardous drifting of lying snow.

Travel will be impacted coast-to-coast as this winter storm gets underway through the course of this week.