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An estimated 160 million Americans are bracing for a significant winter storm poised to deliver heavy snow and freezing rain starting Friday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that the expansive storm system is expected to traverse much of the United States, creating “extremely dangerous” conditions as it moves eastward from the High Plains and Rockies.
Authorities caution that an Arctic air mass will usher in sub-zero temperatures and significant wind chills, presenting “a life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin.”
US transportation officials, including airport authorities in major metropolitan areas, have issued alerts regarding potential weekend travel disruptions, including delays and cancellations.
The slow-moving winter storm is anticipated to blanket numerous cities with snow, including Memphis, Nashville, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.
Heavy snowfall is forecast across the Southern Rockies and Plains, extending into the Mid-Atlantic region and ultimately reaching the Northeast.
Data from the NWS Probabilistic Precipitation Portal indicate that regions from Colorado to West Virginia and Boston could experience over a foot of snow.
The NWS predicts that portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New York, including New York City, could receive between 10 and 14 inches of snow beginning early Sunday and continuing through Monday. Wind chills as low as -10°F (-23°C) are expected in the same region from Friday evening to Saturday afternoon.
Most of southern New England, including Boston, can anticipate between 12 and 17 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 30 mph from Sunday into Monday, according to the NWS. Wind chill temperatures there could plummet to -15°F (-26°C) from Friday into Saturday.
The NWS projects that numerous low-temperature records are likely to be broken, with the coldest wind chills potentially dropping below -50°F (-46°C) across the Northern Plains.
A significantly larger area of the southeastern US is also forecast to experience freezing temperatures.
Governors in several US states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina, have declared states of emergency, enabling emergency management officials, including National Guard troops, to mobilize response efforts.
During a Friday press conference, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the state has prepared over 1,600 snow plows and 114,000 tons of salt in anticipation of the storm, which she characterized as leaving no area of the state “immune from feeling the effect of Mother Nature’s wrath.”
Hochul urged residents to work remotely, stock up on groceries and essential supplies, and exercise caution when shoveling snow, which can elevate the risk of a heart attack.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated Friday that the city will deploy thousands of sanitation workers this weekend, along with 700 salt spreaders and 2,200 snow plows once two inches of snow have accumulated. While subways and buses will remain operational, he encouraged New Yorkers to stay home if possible.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated Thursday that there is “no expectation whatsoever” that the state’s power grid will fail, as it did during a major storm in 2021, which resulted in hundreds of fatalities in the state.
He acknowledged the possibility of localized power outages due to falling ice and snow but emphasized that this would differ significantly from a large-scale grid failure.
“The local power providers have never been more prepared for any winter storm ever,” Abbott asserted.
Several airlines have offered passengers the option to change their flights, in some instances without incurring additional fees, due to concerns about potential cancellations.
According to flight tracker FlightAware, more than 2,700 flights within, into, or out of the US have already been canceled for Saturday, along with over 2,900 for Sunday.
NWS meteorologists Rich Otto and Tony Fracasso advised motorists to avoid driving across the weekend, with travel expected to be “nearly impossible during the peak of the storm,” according to CBS, the BBC’s US news partner.
Meanwhile, in Canada, freezing temperatures are already prevalent, with snowfall anticipated in eastern and Atlantic regions on Monday, meteorologist Geoff Coulson told CBC earlier this week.
Even after the storm passes through the US this weekend, a strong Arctic air mass originating in Canada will maintain frigid temperatures in the eastern US into next week, according to the NWS Weather Prediction Center.
How is the storm impacting you? Click here or use the form below.
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