A slow-moving winter storm is set to impact more than half the US, bringing heavy snow, widespread ice, extreme cold and risks of prolonged power outages.
FIle image: A slow-moving winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, ice and dangerous cold across much of the US. | (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua | IANS)
More than half of the United States is preparing for a sprawling winter storm that could disrupt daily life for days. Officials say over 200 million people may be affected as the system pushes east, bringing heavy snow, widespread ice, and dangerous cold.
Weather agencies warn this could be the most significant winter storm the country has seen in at least five years. Its slow pace is a key concern. Snow and ice will have time to build up, increasing the risk of power outages and making travel hazardous.
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Precipitation began in the Southern Plains on Friday. It is expected to move into the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on Saturday before reaching the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast by Sunday and Monday.
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Forecasters say snowfall could reach up to a foot in parts of the country, particularly north of the storm’s track. Areas from Oklahoma to Massachusetts are among those at risk. Further south, including Texas, Virginia, and the Carolinas, a mix of snow, rain, and freezing rain is more likely.
Strong winds will add to the danger. Wind chills are expected to drop well below zero, with temperatures feeling as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the northern and central Plains. Ice accumulation could be severe in some regions, increasing the chances of prolonged electricity cuts.
Several states have already declared emergencies. Authorities are urging people to prepare supplies and avoid unnecessary travel.
Extreme cold is arriving alongside the snow and ice. On Friday morning, temperatures in the Minneapolis area fell to 21 degrees below zero, with wind chills even lower. Forecasts suggest record-low temperatures are possible this weekend across parts of the Southern Plains and the Mid-Atlantic.
Meteorologists say the storm is being fuelled by a developing low-pressure system in the Southwest. As it moves east, it is expected to collide with moist air from the Gulf and a surge of Arctic cold, intensifying snowfall and ice formation.
Winter storm alerts remain in place across large parts of the country, stretching from the Southern Plains through the South and into the Northeast.
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