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This is what North Carolina looks like covered in snow 1:20
(CNN) - As winter ends and spring begins, a coast-to-coast storm with blizzard conditions, strong winds, and heavy rains will sweep across the United States Wednesday through Friday.
The big storm "will affect almost all states with temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius," says CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.
The weather system is expected to produce "a possibly strong band of snow from the center of the Rocky Mountains to the northeast" on Thursday, the NOAA Weather Prediction Center tweeted.
Follow the path of the storm here >>>
Thursday is also the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of the lunar spring.
"Storms in late winter are nothing new," says CNN meteorologist Chad Myers, "but they differ from mid-winter events because of the higher moisture content in the slightly warmer late-season air. They have much more potential to smother that very heavy "snowman" snow to the north and create severe storms, including tornadoes, to the south. "
While this thick strip of snow will settle in the northern areas, heavy rains and severe storms are forecast from the southern plains to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
The storm will begin to take shape on Wednesday
This Wednesday, the storm will develop in the southwestern corner of the country before crossing diagonally to the northeast.
Almost 12 inches of snow could fall on Flagstaff, Arizona, and the surrounding mountains more than 1,800 meters high.
On the warmer side of the storm, severe storms are possible for the second consecutive day in Texas and Oklahoma.
There are likely to be damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes, even during the night hours Wednesday through Thursday.
This Thursday, the heaviest snowfall will hit the central United States.
"By Thursday morning, blizzard conditions will spread through parts of the Rocky Mountains toward the plains, with heavy snowfall and high winds," Hennen explains.
"Winds from north to northeast of 40-56 km / h with gusts of 80 kph through High Plains are expected," predicted the National Weather Service in Cheyenne.
The serious risk will shift east with the possibility of damaging winds and even tornadoes from Texas to southern Indiana.
By Friday, there will be a big difference between temperatures on the north side of the storm and the south side, which will divide the country in half.
Storm