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The calendar may say it’s the first day of spring, but it will hardly feel like it in many places across the US today that will receive snowfall and a blizzard warning, meanwhile, severe storms could wreak havoc across the south, Mississippi, and Ohio Valleys; plus, more of today’s weather news and forecast.
March 19 marks the first day of spring in the US and the northern hemisphere, but it’s going to be much more like winter for millions of people across a large swath of the country today.
A blizzard warning is in effect for southeastern Wyoming, western Nebraska, and northeastern Colorado.
Snow and mixed precipitation are possible throughout much of the west today in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
In the northern Rockies, snowfall is expected for roughly half of Montana and all of Wyoming.
Mixed precipitation and snow are also possible in the Dakotas, Nebraska, northern Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, northern Michigan, northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Freezing rain is possible in portions of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Rain and thunderstorms will extend from Texas to New York today, affecting portions of the south, Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, southeast and northeast.
Some areas are in danger of severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, heavy rain, flooding, hail, and potential tornadoes.
The severe weather has already begun today as a tornado warning and tornado watches have already been issued in Texas.
Early reports are already coming in at of this moment of an unconfirmed tornado having already torn through rural north Texas. Storm spotters reported a suspected tornado tearing through a rural area just south of Graham, about 80 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
The storm has now moved on to the town of Alvord, about 50 miles north of Fort Worth, and reports are also coming in of damage to several metal buildings, as well as widespread tree damage and downed utility lines.
The Mississippi River Valley is at a threat level of 3 out of 5 in terms of severity, with a 10% chance of tornadoes occurring within the 25 miles of the risk area.
The northeast also has a severe weather threat at a level of 1 out of 5.
The greatest threat of severe weather exists in northern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, most of Arkansas, all of Missouri, eastern Kansas, most of Iowa and Illinois, all of Indiana, southern Wisconsin, and western Ohio.
Risk of both severe weather and flooding exists for northeastern Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, western Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southwestern Ohio.
West: San Francisco 59, Los Angeles 59, Reno 44, Las Vegas 61, Salt Lake City 47, Denver 41.
Northwest & Northern Rockies: Seattle 60, Portland 64, Boise 53, Billings 27, Cheyenne 36, Bismarck 16, Rapid City 35.
Southwest: Phoenix 62, Albuquerque 56, El Paso 65, San Antonio 82, Brownsville 89.
Central & Upper Midwest: Lubbock 68, Dallas 77, Oklahoma City 77, Kansas City 76, Minneapolis 42, Madison 49.
Ohio Valley: Chicago 59, St. Louis 72, Detroit 50, Cincinnati 67, Indianapolis 67.
South: Houston 84, New Orleans 82, Memphis 78, Atlanta 81, Charlotte 80, Jacksonville 87, Tampa 89, Miami 81.
East: Norfolk 79, Washington, D.C. 76, Buffalo 56, New York 56, Boston 44, Bangor 41.
