A powerful winter storm is set to unleash widespread, significant impact across large portions of the United States this week, warned the National Weather Service (NWS). Following a winter storm that pounded the Northeast over the weekend, the new storm is poised to bring major flooding and blizzard conditions to the Southeast and East Coast.

According to federal forecasters, flooding will be a major concern as the storm progresses through the region on Tuesday. The central Gulf Coast and Eastern U.S. are likely to experience extensive river and flash flooding, accompanied by powerful onshore winds that will trigger coastal flooding along the eastern Gulf Coast and much of the East Coast.

AccuWeather meteorologists predict that the accumulation of snow from the previous storm is expected to melt as the new, warmer system moves in. However, they also caution that strong winds accompanying the storm could cause damage to homes and businesses, potentially resulting in widespread power outages.

While the storm may bring a period of heavy snow and a wintry mix to parts of the central Appalachians and New England on Tuesday, the most significant impact will be from high winds and flooding rainfall, as stated by AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.

The region is bracing for 1 to 3 inches of rain from Tuesday to Wednesday. When combined with the potential rapid snowmelt, this heavy rainfall raises concerns for severe flooding from rivers and streams with little advance notice.

As the storm system rolls through, the Southeast will experience severe thunderstorms starting Monday night into Tuesday. The NWS has issued a tornado watch for parts of the southern region, citing the possibility of tornadoes.

Furthermore, federal forecasters have issued a blizzard warning for the plains of northeast New Mexico, eastern Colorado, the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, western Kansas, and southwest Nebraska starting on Tuesday. They advise that travel in these areas will become extremely dangerous, if not impossible.

With significant flooding, blizzard conditions, and the threat of tornadoes, this winter storm is creating a multifaceted weather situation that demands heightened caution and preparedness from residents in the impacted areas. Stay tuned for further updates from the NWS as the storm progresses over the coming days.