A powerful and intensifying “March Megastorm” is sweeping across the United States, placing more than 200 million people in the path of life-threatening weather conditions. AccuWeather meteorologists have issued a high-risk warning for Sunday, citing a volatile mix of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and blizzard-strength snow that will impact a broad swath of the country from the Rockies to the East Coast.
The most immediate threat centers on the Mississippi Valley and central U.S., where a high risk of severe thunderstorms is forecast for Sunday.
The danger zone includes portions of nine states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana. Forecasters are warning of widespread damaging wind gusts between 70 and 80 mph, as well as the potential for tornadoes and large hail.
“The March Megastorm will bring a wide range of dangerous, life-threatening impacts across parts of the country,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. He noted a specific concern for the southern U.S., where trees and power lines were previously weakened by a major ice storm in January. “As a result, the risk of falling trees and downed power lines—and potentially long-lasting power outages—will be higher if damaging winds affect the hardest-hit areas.”
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While the south faces severe storms, the storm’s northern flank is pulling in Arctic air, triggering heavy snow and blizzard conditions.
Total accumulations of 1 to 3 feet are expected from the Twin Cities through central and northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Strong winds in these areas are likely to create near-zero visibility, effectively shutting down travel on major routes like Interstates 90 and 94 through Monday.
A narrow band of ice is also expected to form between the warm and cold sectors of the storm. Northern Iowa, southern Minnesota, and parts of lower Michigan could see ice accretion of a quarter-inch or more, making roads treacherous and further increasing the risk of power outages.
Travel disruptions are expected to be widespread throughout the weekend and into the start of the work week. Major hubs including Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, and Nashville are bracing for delays. By Monday, the severe weather threat is projected to shift toward the East Coast, bringing a moderate risk of thunderstorms to the Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Raleigh metro areas.
Residents in the affected regions are being urged to prepare for potential long-term power outages and to monitor local alerts as the storm progresses.
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