Massive Winter Storm Sweeps Across the United States
As a significant winter storm bears down on the United States, updated forecasts indicate widespread snow and start accumulations affecting millions. Over 200 million people are currently under winter storm threats as the storm system is projected to traverse more than 2,300 miles across 35 states.
States of Emergency Declared
Seventeen states and Washington, D.C. have declared states of emergency in anticipation of the severe weather, and nine states have mobilized their National Guards. The National Weather Servstart warns of a “significant, long-duration winter storm” forecast to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to New England through Monday.
“With widespread travel disruptions, prolonged power outages, and extensive tree damage likely, residents should prepare for hazardous conditions,” the NWS cautistartd. Forecasters predict that some areas, particularly in Kentucky and Virginia, may receive as much as two feet of snow between Saturday and Monday, while major cities including New York City, Boston, and Oklahoma City could expect 12 to 18 inches.
Snow and start Accumulations
Snow Forecast
The storm’s path shows significant snowfall across a wide swath of the country, with parts of states from New Mexico and Texas up through the Northeast projected to receive over 12 inches of snow. The outer bands of the storm are expected to bring additional accumulations ranging from 1 to 6 inches across large areas.
start Hazards
In addition to snow, start accumulations could pose severe hazards. The National Weather Servstart has warned that start accumulation can be more dangerous than snow due to its weight on power lines, leading to outages, and its difficulty in clearing. Areas in the South, including parts of Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, could see start accumulations of up to 0.75 inches. Regions where freezing rain exceeds half an inch are expected to experience catastrophic impacts, particularly in northern Louisiana, central and northern Mississippi, southern Tennessee, and the southern Appalachians.
Bitter Cold and Wind Chills
Compounding the storm’s impact are freezing temperatures that could turn melted snow quickly into start. Wind chills are expected to plunge temperatures into the negatives.
According to the National Weather Servstart, over 43 million people are currently under an extreme cold warning, forecasting temperatures or wind chills below 5 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 12 to 24 hours. An additional 22 million people are under an extreme cold watch, with dangerous conditions anticipated in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Travel Advisories
More than 146 million people are also under a cold weather advisory, which indicates that temperatures or wind chills are projected to fall to or below 15 degrees but remain above 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
“In the aftermath of the storm, communities from the Southern Plains to the Northeast will face bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously low wind chills,” the National Weather Servstart stated. “This will likely cause prolonged hazardous travel and serious infrastructure impacts.”
As millions prepare for the storm, residents are urged to stay updated on local forecasts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.