A major cross-country storm is expected to bring a messy mix of weather to more than 35 states next week, with heavy rain, thunderstorms and accumulating snow all part of the forecast. The system is expected to move across the country over several days, bringing some areas a soaking while others prepare for a much colder change.
According to a report from Fox News Weather, the developing storm is tied to an increasingly active El Niño pattern and could bring some significant weather concerns as it moves east. Snow is expected in higher elevations, while parts of the central and southern U.S. could face heavy rain and severe thunderstorms on Election Day.
Snow Spreads Across Parts of the Nation on Election Day
The storm will bring lots of moisture into the Southwest before pushing farther inland. As colder air settles into higher elevations, snow is expected across parts of the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains.
The southern Rockies are expected to see the biggest snowfall totals, with 12 to 18 inches possible in some locations. That’s enough to make travel difficult, especially in mountain communities and along higher-elevation roads.
Rain will also be a major part of the western forecast. Parts of Arizona could pick up 1 to 2 inches or more through Monday morning, Nov. 2, with some locations potentially seeing considerably higher totals. Phoenix to Flagstaff could receive up to five inches of rain through the early part of next week.
That much moisture is raising concerns about flash flooding, especially in areas that have already dealt with significant rainfall. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall across parts of southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico and southeast Utah.
The concern isn’t just about roads and low-lying areas. Rivers that reached unusually high levels during last week’s flooding could rise again, creating another difficult situation for communities that are still recovering.
Thunderstorms and Intense Weather Threaten 35 States This Week
By Monday, the storm will begin moving into the Plains and Midwest, spreading rain farther east. Heavy downpours could create additional flooding concerns, with nearly 40 million people facing a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat stretching from Texas to Wisconsin.
Election Day could bring an even more active setup, particularly across parts of the South. Warm, moisture-filled air will collide with an advancing cold front, creating conditions that could support thunderstorms from Texas into portions of the Southeast.
The Fox Forecast Center says the amount of atmospheric instability will help determine just how widespread and intense those storms become. For now, a Level 2 out of 5 severe weather risk covers Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas, including Oklahoma City and Wichita.
The storm won’t stop there. As it continues eastward, additional rain is possible across the eastern U.S. later in the week, including parts of the I-95 corridor.
With snow, flooding rain and potentially severe thunderstorms all part of the same developing system, this is one forecast worth keeping an eye on as Election Day approaches.