A massive winter storm set to wallop a 2,000-mile stretch from the southern Plains to the Northeast beginning Friday could cause power outages for millions of Americans and make roads impassable, meteorologists say.
First it will get frigid. An Arctic front is expected to send temperatures plunging below zero in the northern Plains on Thursday and into the mid-Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley and the Northeast by Sunday, the National Weather Service said. The frigid air mass will then interact with a frontal zone to the south to generate a major storm through the weekend.
Around 49 million people are already under winter storm watches from New Mexico to Tennessee — and the watches are expected to expand on Wednesday.
It is still too early to determine the exact path of the storm, but 8 to 14 inches of snow are predicted in Oklahoma City, 6 to 12 inches in Little Rock, Arkansas, and 5 to 10 inches in Amarillo, Texas.
Heavy snow is then expected to hit Memphis, Nashville, Roanoke, Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City.
A prolonged cold spell is likely during and after the snowstorm, meaning those who lose power might endure several days of below-freezing temperatures.
In North Carolina, Duke Energy urged customers to cut back on electricity use starting Wednesday morning to better prepare for potential impacts from the storm.
Wind chills of 40 to 50 below zero are possible in the Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes region, whereas in Texas and other Gulf Coast states, temperatures could feel like the single digits to 10 below zero.
More than 50 record lows are possible from Sunday to Tuesday, with Texas and southern states most at risk of record cold.
Cities like Dallas could spend more than 48 hours below freezing temperatures, and cities like Chicago could see the same time frame with temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that he has already activated state emergency response resources ahead of the storm.
“As temperatures could drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that Texans remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials,” he said in a statement.
By Saturday, heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain will rapidly expand across the South. Travel will likely be impossible in many areas from Texas to the Carolinas.
Heavy snow will hit the mid-Atlantic on Sunday, while ice storms will continue in north Georgia and the Carolinas. By then, the storm should end in the southern Plains as frigid air moves in.
The New York City Department of Emergency Management said forecasts show the storm hitting the area Sunday into Monday, with at least a few inches of snow expected and potential for higher totals. Snow should start Sunday afternoon or evening, affecting weekend plans and the Monday morning commute.
The storm will wrap up by Monday afternoon, but some snow is possible early in the day in southern New England. Record cold temperatures will also grip Texas and the South on Monday.
Snow and icy conditions in the Northeast are already causing havoc, with multiple reports of road accidents. Interstate 90 in New York was closed westbound Tuesday night due to multiple crashes, New York State Police said.
The fire department in Fredonia, New York, shared images on social media of a pileup involving 60 vehicles on I-90 that stretched more than 6 miles.
Multiple schools in Kentucky and Indiana are closed on Wednesday due to freezing temperatures and winter weather.
The Great Lakes region is also set to receive between 6 and 12 inches of lake-effect snow through Friday, with up to 2 feet due in areas downwind of Lake Ontario. Winter storm warnings are in place downwind of Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario.
Airlines are also bracing for impact, issuing travel advisories and waivers through next week.
Delta Air Lines said the winter weather may affect 41 airports, including the airline’s Atlanta hub, from Friday to Sunday. Customers are able to change their bookings with no fees.
United Airlines issued a travel alert saying 35 airports across the South and the Northeast may be affected, and it is also waiving fees and fare differences for rescheduled trips.
American Airlines said customers traveling through 34 affected airports can also rebook travel from Friday to Sunday for no fee.
