A significant winter storm is expected to impact a dozen states across the middle of the country from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic. Forecasters are warning of heavy snowfall, sleet, freezing rain, and Arctic cold that will disrupt travel and daily life from Saturday through Monday. State officials in affected areas are preparing for the worst, with some declaring emergencies and urging residents to avoid travel. Cities are pretreating roads and preparing warming centers in anticipation of the storm.
The low-pressure system associated with the storm will first hit Denver with up to an inch or two of snow before quickly strengthening as it moves through the Central Plains. Blizzard conditions with heavy snowfall and strong winds are predicted for Kansas and Nebraska by Sunday morning. The storm will then continue eastward, reaching the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys on Sunday and the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday night into Monday. At least eight inches of snow is expected in a region stretching from Kansas to Indiana, with the potential for additional snow showers lingering into Monday.
While the geographic scope of the storm was still uncertain as of Friday afternoon, meteorologists are warning of significant icing potential in the mid-South this weekend. Sleet and freezing rain could create hazardous conditions from eastern Kansas to the Tennessee and lower Ohio Valleys. The southern Appalachian Mountains are also at risk of icing on Sunday and Sunday night. By Monday, the storm is projected to cross the Appalachians and impact areas including Washington, D.C., western Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware with precipitation continuing into Monday.
The storm is coinciding with what the National Weather Service is calling a significant Arctic outbreak across the eastern United States. Temperatures are expected to plummet below average from areas east of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf Coast and Florida, with the frigid weather forecasted to last into mid-January. As a result, the storm’s impact is expected to be magnified by the extreme cold and could lead to widespread disruptions in the affected regions. Residents are advised to take precautions, stay informed, and heed local authorities’ warnings to ensure their safety and well-being during the severe weather event.
