New Orleans, Louisiana – More than 55 million people are facing severe weather risks as a powerful storm system sweeps through the central and southern United States on Tuesday. The storm threatens blizzard conditions, tornadoes, and fire weather, ramping up concerns for the safety of communities along its path.
This significant weather event coincides with the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, where officials have taken precautionary measures to adjust parade schedules and routes in anticipation of potentially destructive weather conditions. A high wind warning is in effect for the city with sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts exceeding 50 mph expected.
Tornado watches have been issued for parts of Texas and Oklahoma, affecting nearly 3 million individuals. These areas are bracing for strong winds up to 70 mph and hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter. The storm is forecasted to intensify as it moves eastward, posing threats of strong tornadoes, gusty winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.
Northern Louisiana, central Mississippi, and southern Arkansas are projected to experience the most severe weather conditions. Cities like Shreveport, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi, may face strong tornadoes, wind gusts exceeding 74 mph, and large hail, accompanied by heavy rainfall amounts up to 3 inches.
A lower but still notable threat for severe storms extends from eastern Texas to western Georgia and northward through Missouri. This lower-risk area could bring isolated tornadoes, strong winds, and hail to cities like Memphis, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Dallas, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
New Orleans officials are closely monitoring the approaching storm, making adjustments to Mardi Gras parade schedules and durations to ensure the safety of participants and spectators. A wind gust of 60 mph is anticipated in the city, posing potential risks to floats and revelers.
In parallel, a significant snowstorm is impacting the central US, with snowfall affecting the Rocky Mountains and winter weather alerts issued across the region. The storm system is expected to move into the Midwest by Tuesday evening, potentially bringing 2-7 inches of snow to parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Further complicating the situation, a massive dust storm, known as a haboob, swept over portions of New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico on Monday, leading to road closures and near-zero visibility. The dust storm is expected to exacerbate fire conditions in the Southern Plains, where red flag warnings are in effect for over 8 million people due to strong winds, dry air, and ongoing drought conditions.
As the storm progresses, areas in central and southwestern Texas face an “extremely critical” fire threat, with cities like San Antonio and Austin expected to experience gusts of up to 60 mph and dangerously low humidity levels. The evolving weather patterns warrant continued vigilance and preparedness among residents and authorities in the affected regions.