Heavy snow and frigid temps put 70 million in the U.S. under winter storm warnings
BOSTON — Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will take hold in much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine.
Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service have already gone into effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, with the forecast projecting up to a half-foot (15 centimeters) of snow. Warnings will begin in New England on Sunday afternoon, with parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut seeing as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow.
Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, projected that as many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm hazards warning in the coming days including in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Large cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston could see several inches of snow this evening with the highest totals being outside of major cities.
“There will certainly be some more hazardous road conditions anywhere from D.C. up the whole I-95 corridor and then inland from there later today and tonight,” Chenard said. “Then it gets quite cold behind that. By Monday morning, any roads that haven’t been treated or cleared will still likely be some hazardous travel conditions.”
New York City officials urged city residents to take the subway and buses if they have to travel during the storm to facilitate street-clearing efforts. Residents are also encouraged to check on their neighbors during the frigid weather, as cold temperatures and high winds could pose serious dangers.
The weather service indicated a chance of snow showers Sunday afternoon and evening in western New York state, where an NFL playoff game is set to occur. Heavier, lake-effect snow is expected in that region Monday through Wednesday morning, with some areas, particularly along Lake Ontario, possibly receiving 2 to 3 feet (about 60 to 90 centimeters) of snow.
In addition, New Jersey has declared a state of emergency, with winter storm warnings in effect for multiple counties in the northern part of the state, where 6 to 8 inches of snow is anticipated from Sunday afternoon through late evening. Cities and towns are opening warming centers to protect residents from the freezing temperatures.
However, the snow is just the beginning of a chaotic week of weather. Much of the Eastern half of the U.S. will face some of the coldest temperatures this winter, with forecasts suggesting temperatures from the Rockies to the Northern Plains could drop to minus 30 degrees F (minus 34 degrees C) and even as low as minus 55 F (minus 48 C) on Sunday and Monday. Wind chills have already reached minus 40 F (minus 40 C) in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, with sub-zero wind chills expected to impact areas as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley.
The cold weather prompted measures to keep residents warm, including moving events indoors due to the weather forecast for Washington, D.C., predicting chilly conditions on Monday.
As this latest cold snap arises from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually contained around the North Pole, temperatures will still be quite low across the Central and Eastern U.S. with highs in the teens and 20s, and lows in the single digits and below zero degrees F (minus 18 C) expected. Wind chills will remain below zero throughout these regions.
Colder temperatures are forecasted to reach into the South early this week, affecting up to 30 million people starting Monday with a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain stretching from Texas to northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are anticipated to begin in Texas on Monday night and spread to the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.
A combination of frigid air and a low-pressure system over the Gulf will drive the storm, potentially leading to heavy snow just south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and affecting areas from Houston to Mobile, Alabama, with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
In advance of this wintry weather, officials in Louisiana have already declared a state of emergency, urging residents to stay prepared and to monitor the weather closely.
