A sweeping winter storm has brought heavy snow and dangerously low temperatures to millions of residents across the United States, from the Northern Plains to the East Coast. Winter storm warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for large portions of the country, with some areas bracing for life-threatening conditions.
In New England, storm warnings began Sunday afternoon, and the Mid-Atlantic region is expected to endure a thick blanket of snow through Monday morning. Snow accumulations are projected to reach 2 to 3 feet in parts of western New York, including Oswego, located along Lake Ontario. The NWS has warned that as many as 70 million residents could experience extreme winter weather in the coming days.
This recent cold front, which marks a return of the Arctic blast, has already begun causing disruptions, with the Eastern Seaboard anticipating some of the coldest temperatures of the winter. Areas from the Rockies to the Northern Plains are expected to see temperatures plummet to as low as minus 30 to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit by Monday. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to stretch as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley.
In Minnesota, residents are urged to take extra precautions when traveling, including wearing warm clothing, carrying a survival kit, and ensuring their vehicles are well-equipped with a full tank of gas and a charged cellphone. Kristi Rollwagen, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, emphasized that while the state has faced such weather before, it remains crucial for residents to stay vigilant during the storm.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. will also see temperatures dip into the 20s, accompanied by gusty winds of up to 30 mph. This has led to a decision to move President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ceremony indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, as the cold front continues to intensify.
The sudden plunge in temperatures is linked to a disruption in the polar vortex, a ring of cold air typically confined to the North Pole. As the cold air moves southward and eastward, temperatures will moderate slightly but still remain frigid across much of the Central and Eastern U.S., where lows will be in the single digits and below zero, with wind chills making it feel even colder.
In the South, an unusual mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected to affect around 30 million people, starting Monday night. This wintry mix will stretch from Texas to northern Florida and the Carolinas, with the heaviest impacts forecasted from Texas through the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday. Louisiana is particularly at risk, as a combination of frigid air and a low-pressure system over the Gulf is expected to bring snow to areas just south of the Interstate 20 corridor, and a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the Interstate 10 corridor. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has already issued a state of emergency and urged residents to prepare for the severe weather.
As this winter storm system moves eastward, its effects will continue to be felt for several days, making it one of the most impactful storms of the season so far.