STATE COLLEGE, Pa., March 3 (UPI) -- A powerful weather system slogging across the United States sparked storms packing damaging winds, hail and tornado potential in the southern Plains Monday.
To the north, snow was forecast from the eastern plans of New Mexico through the Central Plains and into the Great Lakes region, AccuWeather.com reported. Most areas in that band of snow were expected to receive 1-3 inches, while a narrow swath in Missouri was targeted for up to 6 inches.
Damaging thunderstorms -- with straight-line winds, large hail and flash flooding -- were predicted to move eastward from eastern Texas and southeastern Arkansas, through Louisiana, Mississippi and western Tennessee before eventually reaching areas of South Carolina, said AccuWeather, based in State College, Pa. The strongest thunderstorm cells were forecast to produce tornadoes.
Elsewhere where rain was predicted, forecasters said snowmelt would be hastened, increasing flooding possibilities. The greatest risk was expected to develop from the upper Ohio Valley to upstate New York.
Gusty winds Monday created whiteout conditions across the Plains.
Storm-related watches and warnings, along with weather travel delays, were listed along the system's path, AccuWeather.com said.
