As weather forecasters warn of an impending ice and snow storm set to sweep across a wide swath of the United States later this week, millions of Americans found themselves under alerts and warnings for frigid weather and treacherous snow conditions on Wednesday, January 21st.
AccuWeather, a private U.S. media company providing commercial weather forecasting services, stated that the storm will be accompanied by a blast of cold air, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures and bringing heavy snow and ice conditions to over 20 states from Texas to the Northeast. While the exact path of the storm remains uncertain, several inches of snow are expected in the Plains region, with Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina likely to experience icy weather.
On January 21st, over 110 million Americans were under watches, warnings, or advisories for extreme winter weather conditions, including blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings, high wind warnings, and extreme cold warnings. Among them, 57 million people in states such as Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee were under winter storm watches. The Great Lakes region also had millions under winter weather advisories and extreme cold watches.
AccuWeather forecasts that this storm could disrupt thousands of flights, cause major road closures, and lead to school closures.
Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, stated, “This is shaping up to be the most impactful storm of the winter so far. The combination of ice, snow, and extremely low temperatures will create a dangerous weather situation.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) stated that two low-pressure systems are expected to sweep across the Great Lakes region in the coming days, resulting in “lake effect” snow. By the end of the workweek, snow accumulations in some areas could reach up to 2 feet.
The NWS mentioned that two-thirds of the eastern U.S. will face an Arctic cold blast, with temperatures dropping to single digits and even below zero in some areas.
An Arctic cold front is set to expand from the Northern Plains to the Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Northeast by January 22nd, continuing through the weekend. Wind gusts will make already extreme temperatures even more dangerous.
Wind chill temperatures, also known as the apparent temperature, are a measure that combines actual temperature and wind speed to assess the perceived temperature, particularly in cold environments.
According to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, these wind chill temperatures pose a risk of life-threatening low body temperatures and frostbite for individuals exposed to the cold.
The NWS mentioned that next week, subzero temperatures may extend southward to the Gulf Coast.
Forecasters stated that the “polar air mass” enveloping much of the country will trigger a major winter storm beginning on January 23rd and lasting through the weekend, affecting areas from Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina to the Northeast.
The storm is expected to start in the Southern Rockies and Great Plains on January 23rd, bringing a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, before moving towards the East Coast over the weekend. The northern part of the storm, covering areas like Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina, is expected to see heavy snow, while the southern part will bring freezing rain to much of the Deep South.
Due to the uncertainty regarding the storm’s exact path and timing, snowfall totals may vary, but with low temperatures, the snow is not likely to melt quickly. AccuWeather predicts central Plains regions could see 6 to 12 inches of snow, with parts of the Appalachians possibly receiving up to 2 feet.
The NWS office in Nashville mentioned that areas north of Interstate 40 could see up to a foot of snow, while areas south of the highway may experience up to 0.5 inches of ice accumulation.
The lowest wind chill temperature recorded in the United States was minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit on February 3, 2023, at the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that Alaska holds the record for the lowest temperature among the 50 states, with a reading of minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit on January 23, 1971.
Among the 50 states, only Hawaii lacks a record of below-freezing temperatures, with a low of 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, has a record low of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
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