Severe Storms Pummel Parts of US With Snow and High Winds

Tornado threat raised as storms sweep across the nation, disrupting travel and causing power outages

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:18am

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Severe weather, including snow, high winds, and the threat of tornadoes, is impacting the eastern half of the United States on Monday. Forecasters warn of the potential for damaging winds and tornadoes in the Mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C. area. The storm system is also causing significant disruptions, with hundreds of flights canceled and over 210,000 customers without power in the Great Lakes region. Meanwhile, Hawaii continues to deal with flooding from a separate storm system.

Why it matters

This late-winter storm system is causing widespread disruptions across a large swath of the country, impacting travel, infrastructure, and public safety. The severe weather highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which can have significant economic and social consequences for communities.

The details

The severe weather is expected to move off the East Coast by Tuesday, bringing sharply colder weather in its wake. Forecasters warn of the potential for over 2 feet of snow in parts of the Upper Midwest, while areas like Chicago and Milwaukee are likely to see lower snow accumulations that will still create trouble for commuters. The storm threat is also expected to enter the Appalachians before moving toward the East Coast, where 'severe thunderstorms with widespread damaging winds and several tornadoes' are anticipated.

  • The severe storms began firing up on Sunday and were crossing the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys.
  • The storm threat is expected to enter the Appalachians and then move toward the East Coast on Monday afternoon.
  • The cold front is expected to move off the East Coast by Tuesday.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency that issued the warnings about the severe storms and potential for damaging winds and tornadoes.

Josh Stein

The governor of North Carolina who urged residents to enable emergency alerts on their phones ahead of the expected high winds.

Tyler Roys

An AccuWeather senior meteorologist who provided forecasts and insights about the storm system.

Jim Allen

A 45-year-old resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula who was preparing for the heavy snowfall by stocking up on supplies and clearing snow.

Richard Bissen

The mayor of Maui County, Hawaii, who provided updates on the flooding situation in the area.

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What they’re saying

“We're basically prepared to just kind of hunker down for a few days if we need to.”

— Jim Allen

“In the 20 years I've been here I've never seen this much rain.”

— Jesse Wald, Resident and real estate broker

What’s next

The cold front is expected to move off the East Coast by Tuesday, bringing sharply colder weather in its wake.

The takeaway

This severe weather event highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather patterns, which can have significant impacts on communities across the country. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, it will be crucial for local and national authorities to be prepared to respond to these types of disruptive and potentially dangerous storms.