Storm system threatens flooding, high winds across US this week. Will storm hit here?

Over the next week, tens of millions of Americans will be at risk of severe weather as a colossal storm marches across the country, threatening hurricane-force winds, major flooding, blizzard conditions and a possible tornado outbreak.

Meteorologists say the storm could impact every region of the country, first rolling ashore along the Pacific Coast on Wednesday, bringing soaking rain and heavy snow to California and other western states as it moves inland. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned of rock and mudslides.

By Friday, the massive storm will stretch across nearly the entire central U.S., from the Gulf Coast to the Canadian border, threatening everything from snow to hurricane-force winds, record-breaking high temperatures and tornadoes.

How will this storm impact Tuscarawas County?

So what's the forecast for eastern Ohio look like?

According to the forecast from the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh, the region can expect to cash in on the above-normal high temperatures under sunny skies on Friday, with rain showers arriving Saturday and Sunday.

As of Tuesday morning, no severe weather was predicted for the region. That could change, however.

"A significant weather system is expected to develop late this week," the office noted on its Facebook page. "A strong low pressure system forming near the Rockies Friday will bring the potential of heavy rain, strong winds, and even thunderstorms Saturday into Sunday. We'll provide updates as the situation develops."

A special weather statement issued for Tuesday afternoon and evening warned the "combination of above-normal temperature, relative humidity values ranging from around 20 to 30 percent and gusty winds between 15 to 25 mph will result in elevated fire danger across the area."

What is so unusual about this storm system?

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines told USA TODAY the storm could be among the strongest on record in terms of low pressure. "This is going to be a very significant, very strong storm," he said.

The worst conditions, including hurricane-force winds, flooding rain and possible tornadoes, are set to hit the central U.S. on Friday and Saturday. The barrage of extreme weather is likely to lead to power outages and travel delays on roads and at airports.

The forecast comes days after an expansive storm similarly trekked across the U.S. last week, unloading snow in the northern Plains and bringing tornadoes and wildfires to the South. At least five storm-related deaths in Nebraska and Mississippi were tied to that storm.

Western US braces for deluge, snowstorms

The National Weather Service says the storm will arrive on the West Coast early Wednesday and bring heavy rain to coastal California.

Southern California is at risk of flash flooding and debris flow, the weather service said, especially in areas impacted by the outbreak of wildfires in January. San Francisco could also see heavy rain on Wednesday.

As the storm heads east, it is expected to blanket the Sierra Nevada mountains in 2 to 4 feet of snow and produce widespread wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph, making travel dangerous, Kines said.

From Thursday into Friday, snow will bury parts of Nevada, Utah and Arizona, which has seen less snow this winter than usual. From Friday into the weekend, much of the Plains region will be at risk of heavy snow and possible blizzard conditions as the low pressure system strengthens, the Weather Prediction Center said.

While these conditions could lead to travel delays and treacherous road conditions, they will also bring much needed moisture to the region. "More storms with generous rain and mountain snow are needed prior to the beginning of the dry season, less than a couple of months away," said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in an online forecast.

Almost 500K square miles at risk of severe thunderstorms

By Friday, severe weather advisories will abound across the country as nearly half a million square miles from Texas to the Dakotas will be at risk of "severe thunderstorms" capable of spinning up tornadoes, according to AccuWeather.

Kines said there are concerns this storm could cause a "tornado outbreak," leading to dozens of twisters from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest.

One of main severe weather conditions will be widespread, damaging winds of 65 to 75 mph, with gusts possibly reaching 100 mph. Such high winds risk mass power outages, grounding flights, uprooting trees and spreading wildfires, especially in the drought-stricken Plains and southwest regions.

On Saturday, the large storm will continue tracking east, bringing thunderstorms to Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, the Florida Panhandle and western Georgia, according to AccuWeather. Forecasters said thunderstorms could slow down as they encounter the Appalachian Mountains, possibly triggering flash flooding in the Tennessee Valley.

The East Coast will not be spared

The storm will barrel east toward the Atlantic Coast into Sunday and could impact several major cities.

Kines said it's possible severe weather threats stretch into the I-95 corridor, including Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

"The eastern part of the country will not be left out," he said, adding that there's still uncertainty about what the exact impacts will look like.

Possible record temperatures across central US

Ahead of the storm, large swaths of the country will experience above average temperatures and some areas could see daily records broken, Kines said.

In Chicago, for example, temperatures on Friday could reach the upper 70s, nearing the city's record high temperature for that day. Other Plains and Midwest states that could see record highs include Kansas City, Missouri, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Southern Texas, meanwhile, could experience triple digit temperatures, well above its average temperatures in the lower 80s for this time of year.

What's the National Weather Service forecast for Tuscarawas County?

Today

Sunny, with a high near 68. South wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Light southwest wind.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 73.

Friday Night

A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday

Showers likely, mainly after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night

Showers. Low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday

Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.