Extreme winds ripping across the US could bring hurricane levels of destruction and impact thousands of air travelers flying across the country.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued high wind warnings throughout more than 10 states in the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Southwest throughout Tuesday.
Wind gusts are expected to reach hurricane strength in parts of Colorado, Montana, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming, exceeding 75mph.
Parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, California, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Alaska have also been warned to prepare for sustained winds over 30mph and gusts between 60 and 70mph.
NWS has even said that Americans in the skies may be at risk of injury as air turbulence is expected to be particularly extreme, especially over Texas and New Mexico.
The addition of blizzard conditions in the Northern Plains, including in Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas, is expected to compound the travel misery through Wednesday, bringing several inches of snow, 60mph wind gusts, and little to no visibility on roads.
The wind gusts are expected to be so extreme that NWS officials fear large trucks and tractor-trailers could be blown over on their sides while driving.
Meanwhile, flights at Denver International Airport have already been delayed by more than two hours due to wind conditions on the runway.
This is a breaking story. More details to follow.
The National Weather Service has issued high wind warnings and advisories (Seen in brown) throughout the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Southwest on Tuesday, February 17
Air turbulence is expected to be extreme over certain states in the Southwest on Tuesday, with ground delays already announced in Colorado (Stock Image)
As of 10am ET, 190 flights leaving Denver International have been delayed due to the powerful winds and another 265 flights arriving have been delayed as well.
Officials in the South are also bracing for devastating fires triggered by the high winds, issuing ‘Red Flag Warnings’ in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming.
NWS explained: ‘A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.’
Many areas under the Red Flag Warning have dry grass, brush, and dead plants from winter dryness or drought, which act like the perfect fuel for wildfires.
Strong gusts over 50mph can act like a fan blowing on smaller fires, pushing the flames in the direction the wind is going, making it move much faster across the ground than it would on a calm day.
The winds also bring fresh air and more oxygen right into the flames, making it burn hotter and more intensely.
Embers from the growing fires can fly ahead and start new fires far ahead of the main fire, sometimes even miles away. The embers land on more dry grass or brush and start ‘spot fires’ that create new blazes before firefighters can arrive.
Anyone who sees smoke outside in these states has been urged to call 911. Residents have also been urged to avoid any kind of outdoor burning on Red Flag Warning days.
Wind gusts reaching hurricane strength are expected to blow over large trucks (Stock Image)
A person in California walks through blizzard conditions. Heavy snow and low visibility in northern states, including Montana and Wyoming, are expected on Tuesday as well
‘High winds may move loose debris, damage property and cause power outages. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,’ NWS added in their alert.
‘Plumes of blowing dust will create pockets of low visibility. Visibilities will likely change rapidly over short distances, making travel hazardous in these areas.’
Moving west, another blast of winter weather could further snarl travel throughout the US, with storm advisories issued in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Oregon, and California.
Along California’s border with Nevada, four to eight feet of snow is expected to fall by Wednesday, with the heaviest accumulations taking place throughout Tuesday.
