The National Weather Service has issued predictions of extreme weather affecting over 100 million people across a broad swath of the U.S., with winds potentially reaching up to 80 mph. On Friday, a massive storm system disrupted highways and fueled wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, prompting evacuations in the small town of Leede, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Patrol reported that strong winds also resulted in several tractor trailers being overturned.
Meteorologists indicated a heightened risk of tornadoes particularly in the Mississippi Valley for Saturday, forecasting severe storms throughout the weekend. Heavy rainfall could lead to flash floods on parts of the East Coast on Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center warned that the severe weather pattern is typical for March, but the scale and intensity of this storm are significant.
Tornado watches were in effect for regions including central and eastern Missouri, while nearly 47 million individuals were warned of potential severe storms from Madison, Wisconsin, to Birmingham, Alabama. Areas in Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of Louisiana and Florida are facing risks of damaging winds and tornadoes, and experts anticipate an increased likelihood for tornado formation.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, wildfires were threatening rapid expansion due to dry conditions and strong winds. In Texas, a wildfire near Amarillo grew from one square mile to approximately 12.5 square miles. Outages from the strong winds affected over 210,000 homes and businesses in several states.
Adding to the weather chaos, a blizzard warning was issued for western Minnesota and parts of South Dakota, with expected snow accumulation of 3-6 inches and wind gusts up to 60 mph, potentially creating dangerous travel conditions. This follows a recent snowstorm that dropped up to three feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada.
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