随着一个强大的风暴系统在该地区移动，预计美国中部本周末将面临多种天气威胁，从大风到火灾再到严重风暴。
随着大型风暴系统缓慢向东穿越美国中部，从德克萨斯州到北达科他州的十几个州的3000多万人受到风力和严重火险警报的影响。
随着风暴系统席卷该地区，预计周六和周日几个州的阵风将达到每小时40-60英里。在高海拔地区，落基山脉中部的部分地区可能会出现时速超过80英里的阵风。
包括丹佛在内的城市都发布了强风警报;内布拉斯加州林肯市;还有德克萨斯州的阿马里洛。
周六，五个州的300多万人也面临严峻的火灾天气，阵风和干燥的天气增加了野火迅速蔓延的风险。科罗拉多州东南部、堪萨斯州西部和俄克拉荷马州狭长地带的部分地区处于极端火险地区，相对湿度降至10%以下，风速超过60英里/小时。
Xcel能源科罗拉多公司说由于“风力引发山火的高风险”，周六下午至周日，丹佛西部郊区和山麓的一些客户将断电。受影响的县包括博尔德、杰斐逊、道格拉斯、布鲁姆菲尔德、拉里默和吉尔平。
丹佛附近的红石圆形剧场取消了周六晚上的户外音乐会，“由于危险的风况。”
预计周日风力和火险情况会略有改善。然而，平原部分地区仍将出现强风和干燥天气，在一些地区仍有火灾隐患。
此外，这个风暴系统可能会在周六下午晚些时候引发分散的强到严重的雷暴，并持续到晚上内布拉斯加州和堪萨斯州的部分地区。破坏性的大风、大冰雹和孤立的龙卷风都是可能的。
同样的风暴系统预计将在周一给南部部分地区带来严重的雷暴威胁，包括德克萨斯州的大部分地区。时机看起来是在历史性的日全食，零星的暴风雨可能会在下午晚些时候爆发，并持续到傍晚时分。可能会出现非常大的冰雹、破坏性阵风和一两场孤立的龙卷风。
在其他地方，冬季警报周六在落基山脉的部分地区生效，春雪有助于延长滑雪季节。落基山脉的部分地区继续遭受大雪的袭击。一些地区可能会看到超过一英尺的积雪，强风引发吹雪，并可能影响一些山口的旅行。
High winds, fire threat and severe weather on tap for central US this weekend
The central United States is expected to face multiple weather threats this weekend, from high winds to fire to severe storms, as a powerful storm system moves across the region.
Over 30 million people across more than a dozen states, from Texas to North Dakota, are under wind and critical fire danger alerts as the large storm system slowly makes its way eastward across the central U.S.
Wind gusts of 40-60 mph on in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday in several states as the storm system sweeps across the region. Portions of the central Rockies could see wind gusts over 80 mph in the higher elevations.
A high wind warning is in effect for cities including Denver; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Amarillo, Texas.
More than 3 million people across five states are also facing critical fire weather Saturday, with gusty winds and dry weather enhancing the risk of quickly-spreading wildfires. Parts of southeastern Colorado, western Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle are in the extreme fire weather risk area, with relative humidity dropping below 10% and winds gusting over 60 mph.
Xcel Energy Coloradosaidit is shutting off power to a number of customers across the suburbs and foothills west of Denver Saturday afternoon into Sunday due to the "high risk of wind-driven wildfires." The affected counties include Boulder, Jefferson, Douglas, Broomfield, Larimer and Gilpin.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, near Denver, canceled its outdoor concert Saturday night "due to dangerous wind conditions."
Conditions are expected to improve slightly on Sunday in terms of wind and fire danger. However, parts of the Plains will still see strong, gusty winds and dry conditions bringing a lingering fire danger in some locations.
Additionally, this storm system could trigger scattered, strong to severe thunderstorms late Saturday afternoon and into the evening across parts of Nebraska and Kansas. Damaging winds, large hail and an isolated tornado are possible.
This same storm system is expected to bring the threat of severe thunderstorms across parts of the South, including much of Texas, on Monday. The timing looks to be after thehistoric total solar eclipse, with scattered storms likely flaring up during the late afternoon and continuing into the early evening hours. Very large hail, damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado or two could occur.
Elsewhere, winter alerts are in effect Saturday across parts of the Rockies, where the spring snow has helped to extend the ski season. Areas of heavy mountain snow continue to hit parts of the Rockies. Some areas could see over a foot of snow along with strong winds triggering blowing snow and possibly impacting travel through some mountain passes.
