Millions Across US Brace for Plunging Temperatures and Winter Storms
Return of the Arctic Blast
Residents across the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine are bracing for dangerously low temperatures as tens of millions of residents along the East Coast contend with a thick blanket of snow — and more snowfall in the forecast. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service were in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, and warnings began in New England on Sunday afternoon. Heavy lake-effect snow was expected in western New York state Monday through Wednesday morning, with 2 to 3 feet possible in some areas including Oswego along Lake Ontario.
Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, projected that as many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm warning in the coming days.
Temperatures in the Rockies into the Northern Plains will see colder than normal weather over several days, with temperatures forecast to drop to between minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to reach as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley.
Unusual Mix of Snow, Sleet, and Freezing Rain
The colder temperatures will dip into the South early this week, where as many as 30 million people starting Monday could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The unusual conditions are expected to stretch from Texas into northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are expected starting Monday night in Texas and then spreading across the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.
Frigid air combined with a low-pressure system over the Gulf is behind the storm, which could bring heavy snow just south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and into Mississippi and a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain near the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Mobile, Alabama.
Minnesota Residents Urged to Take Precautions
Minnesota residents were urged to wear appropriate clothing and carry a survival kit for travel. Kristi Rollwagen, director of homeland security and emergency management at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, also urged motorists to drive with a full tank of gas and a fully charged cellphone to keep in touch with loved ones.
“It’s not something we haven’t experienced before, it’s just a good reminder that it does get cold in Minnesota,” Rollwagen said.
Impact on Daily Life
The forecast prompted President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ceremony to be moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Like earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.
Conclusion
Millions of residents across the United States are bracing for plummeting temperatures and winter storms, with the National Weather Service issuing winter storm warnings for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New England. The unusual mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected to affect as many as 30 million people in the South, while the Arctic blast is expected to bring sub-zero wind chills to the Northern Plains and Midwest.
FAQs
Q: How many residents will be under some kind of winter storm warning?
A: As many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm warning in the coming days.
Q: What areas can expect the heaviest snowfall?
A: Western New York state is expected to receive 2 to 3 feet of snowfall, with Oswego along Lake Ontario being one of the hardest-hit areas.
Q: Will the cold temperatures affect daily life?
A: Yes, the forecast has prompted President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ceremony to be moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, and residents are urged to take precautions such as wearing warm clothing and carrying a survival kit for travel.
