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.

A powerful cross-country storm that will bring rain and mountain snow to the West Coast will also ravage parts of the central and southwestern U.S. on Friday and Saturday. "This is a powerful storm that will have dangerous and disruptive impacts felt across the country,