US braces for snow and heavy rain as major storm predicted for weekend

A snow plow clears a road in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Tuesday. More snow is forecast for the Sierra Nevada mountains. Photograph: Samantha Lindberg/AP

Forecasters warn that a storm system could prompt intense rainfall and possible tornadoes next week in the southern US, as cities across the country are bracing for intense weather leading into the weekend.

The powerful storm system is expected to bring heavy rainfall and high winds to the Gulf coast and south-eastern regions as early as Monday and continue into Tuesday, the Weather Channel reported.