Satellite view of massive southwest US storm system
Image credit: TW
This animation of NOAA's GOES-East satellite imagery over the course of two days (December 26 – 28) shows a massive low pressure system that generated severe weather in the southwestern and central US bringing snow, heavy rainfall, flooding and tornadoes.
During December 26, clouds can be seen containing the line of severe thunderstorms that generated multiple tornadoes in the vicinity of Dallas, TX. NWS reported an EF-4 tornado (winds reaching 281 km/h (175 mph)) hit Garland, TX at about 00:45 UTC on December 27.
The storm system also generated heavy snow and flooding in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Heavy rain fell in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
NWS expects this major storm system will continue to bring a plethora of impacts including heavy snowfall, ice, heavy rainfall, flooding and severe weather on December 28 and 29.
On December 28, flood and flash flood warnings, watches and advisories were in effect from northeast Texas, across the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys. In addition, Winter Storm Warnings and advisories extended from north-central Texas northeastward through the Midwest and the Great Lakes. Winter weather advisories and winter storm watches were issued for much of New England.
"The low pressure system will move toward the Great Lakes region on Tuesday shifting the winter storm threat into Upstate New York and New England," NWS NPC said.
From December 23 to 28 (late UTC afternoon), severe weather across the US has claimed lives of 43 people.
Featured image and video credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
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