Severe Weather Alerts: Tornadoes, Blizzards, and Travel Risks

Severe thunderstorms and tornado risk for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast today. Fast-moving storms from Georgia and the Carolinas into Virginia and Maryland pose the most immediate large-scale travel threat. Damaging winds and a few tornadoes are possible along major corridors
Blizzard Warnings across eastern Iowa, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and northern Michigan continue to produce whiteout conditions and very dangerous travel .
High Wind Warnings from Colorado through Wyoming bring gusts 60–80 mph, producing dangerous crosswinds for high-profile vehicles. The most exposed travel corridors include Vail Pass on I-70 and Sherman Summit on I-80, I-25 through Wyoming and Colorado.

From the RV Mobile Command Center in Brunswick GA:

Here are the relevant National Weather Service Warnings, Watches and Advisories that will impact RV and Road travel over the next several days.

Scroll down to the always-updating graphics immediately below this forecast for the latest information and for weather impacts that do not meet NWS Alert criteria.

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Weather Impacts Pacific Time Zone:

— Northwest Washington and the Washington Cascades remain the main wet-weather concern. A Winter Weather Advisory continues through midday for light snow on higher routes near I-5, and a Flood Watch begins Tuesday evening into Wednesday evening in northwest Washington as heavier rain raises the risk of flooding and water over low-lying roads.

— Northern Idaho and adjacent mountain corridors remain slick through afternoon under a Winter Weather Advisory. Light snow and reduced visibility may slow travel on I-90, especially through the higher terrain.

— Looking ahead, flash-flood risk increases across western and northern Washington Tuesday into Wednesday and again Wednesday into early Thursday. Repeated rain over saturated ground may bring localized flooding near the Olympic Peninsula, the Chehalis Valley, and the Cascades east of Seattle, with the most vulnerable travel corridors near I-5 and routes into the higher terrain.

— Southern California deserts, inland valleys, and parts of the Southland will see a prolonged heat event beginning around midday and building further Tuesday through Friday night. Heat Advisories expand first, then Extreme Heat Warnings and Extreme Heat Watches take over later in the week with highs commonly in the 90s to low 100s and isolated desert readings as high as 106 to 114; heat stress will be a growing issue on I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40 and I-80, especially for long daytime drives and exposed desert corridors.

— The Lower Colorado River Valley and nearby desert corridors from southeast California into southwest Arizona and southern Nevada move into Extreme Heat Watch territory beginning Wednesday or Thursday afternoon and lasting into Friday night or Sunday night, depending on location. Expect dangerous heat for travel on I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40 and I-5, with the hottest conditions likely late week.

Weather Impacts Mountain Time Zone:

— Western and central Montana stay unsettled through today and then turn windier again Monday night into Tuesday. Winter Weather Advisories continue through afternoon on parts of I-15 and Pipestone Pass on I-90 with light snow, blowing snow, and brief visibility drops, while High Wind Warnings and Watches develop later with gusts of 65 to 70 mph on I-15 and I-90.

— Wyoming wind hazards build again late tonight and continue into Tuesday or early Wednesday. High Wind Warnings with gusts to 70 mph are posted for I-25 and Sherman Summit on I-80, where difficult to dangerous crosswind conditions are likely on exposed sections.

— Colorado’s Front Range and adjacent plains remain a significant wind problem through afternoon. High Wind Warnings with gusts to 80 mph affect Vail Pass on I-70 as well as stretches of I-25 and I-76, where crosswinds may become severe for RVs and other large vehicles.

— Desert corridors in Arizona, southern Nevada, and southeast California trend much hotter later this week. Extreme Heat Watches begin Wednesday or Thursday afternoon and continue into Friday night or Sunday night along I-8, I-10, I-17, I-19, I-40 and I-15, with many lower-elevation routes expected to reach the upper 90s to around 108.

Weather Impacts Central Time Zone:

— A major winter travel problem continues today from eastern Iowa and Wisconsin into northern Illinois and northern Michigan. Blizzard Warnings remain in effect through late morning or afternoon on stretches of I-35, I-39, I-43, I-55, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90 and I-94, with additional snow, blowing snow, and whiteout conditions likely to make travel treacherous and at times nearly impossible.

— Parts of the central Plains and upper Missouri Valley stay bitterly cold through late morning. Cold Weather Advisories along I-29, I-80 and I-90 in portions of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and southern Minnesota bring wind chills down to -20 deg F, adding extra stress for any roadside stops or breakdowns.

— Strong non-thunderstorm winds remain widespread from Missouri and Illinois into the lower Ohio Valley and Deep South through today. Wind Advisories cover portions of I-40, I-44, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-65, I-70 and I-72, with gusts commonly 40 to 55 mph on exposed stretches.

— South and central Texas remain a broad wind and fire-weather corridor through today. Wind Advisories continue on I-10, I-35, I-37, I-45 and I-49, and Red Flag Warnings expand this afternoon and evening across south and southeast Texas and western Louisiana; gusty dry winds may produce difficult handling, blowing debris, and localized smoke near any fire starts.

— Fire weather remains elevated from south Texas into Louisiana and the upper Texas coast through evening. Red Flag Warnings and Wind Advisories along I-10, I-35, I-37, I-45 and I-49 point to dry, gusty conditions that may affect visibility near any grass or brush fires.

— River flooding continues in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Flood Warnings and Flood Advisories remain posted near the Kaskaskia, Wabash, White, St. Joseph, Tiffin, Maple and Thorn Creek basins, affecting corridors that include I-57, I-64, I-69, I-80, I-90 and I-96 where low spots and flood-prone access roads may be vulnerable.

Weather Impacts Eastern Time Zone:

— Severe thunderstorm risk remains the larger national story today from the southern Atlantic coast into the Mid-Atlantic. Fast-moving storms may produce damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes, with the greatest risk from central Virginia into Maryland and nearby parts of North Carolina and South Carolina; travel may deteriorate quickly on I-64, I-77, I-81, I-85 and I-95-linked corridors east of the Appalachians.

— Farther south, severe storms and tornado risk continue this morning from south Georgia into the eastern Florida Panhandle and parts of the coastal Southeast. Tornado Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings near I-10, I-16, I-20, I-75 and I-85 may cause abrupt travel disruptions, especially where the squall line is still active.

— Northern Michigan remains especially difficult through tonight and Tuesday morning. Around I-75, Blizzard Warnings, a Winter Storm Warning, an Ice Storm Warning, and additional Winter Weather Advisories point to a mix of snow, sleet, light ice, and gusty winds; roads may turn slick quickly, and secondary roads could become very difficult.

— Northern New England turns wetter later today into Tuesday. Winter Weather Advisories for freezing rain and light snow continue through midday in parts of Maine and New Hampshire, then Flood Watches begin this afternoon or evening and continue into Tuesday afternoon or evening as 1 to 2 inches of rain, with locally higher totals, combine with snowmelt and possible ice-jam issues near I-89, I-91, I-93 and I-95.

— Western and central New York, northwestern Pennsylvania, and adjacent Ohio stay windy through tonight, with some warnings continuing into Tuesday morning. High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories along I-79, I-80, I-86 and I-90 bring gusts of 50 to 60 mph and hazardous crosswinds on exposed highways.

— The North Carolina Coast, interior sections of Virginia, DELMARVA Peninsula, New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Vermont, upstate New York and much of New England remain windy through late morning, afternoon, or Tuesday morning depending on location. Wind Advisories and wind gusts to 50 mph on I-64, I-68, I-70, I-76, I-77, I-78, I-80, I-81, I-87, I-89, I-90, I-91, I-93 and I-95 may produce difficult handling for RVs on ridges, gaps, and other exposed stretches.

— Heavy rain adds a separate flood concern from Virginia north through the urban Northeast today. A Marginal flash-flood risk extends from northern Virginia through Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and into southern New England, with the greatest concern where heavier rain bands cross the Blue Ridge into the I-95 corridor; brief flooding of low spots and urban roads is possible.

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Looking for real-time road conditions? Here’s a link, courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration, to all the individual State 511 websites.