Over 200 million Americans are bracing for a massive winter storm that's set to bring a treacherous mix of ice, snow, and frigid temperatures across nearly two-thirds of the country. The system, which is expected to be slow-moving, could dump heavy snowfall totals as high as two feet in some areas, with the heaviest impacts predicted in the central Appalachians and Northeast.
As the storm system develops in the Southwest, it's forecast to interact with Gulf moisture and Arctic cold air, leading to a prolonged period of hazardous conditions. Freezing rain, sleet, and snow are expected to fall across a vast swathe of the country, from Arizona to Maine, with temperatures plummeting to record lows in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
Travelers are being advised to prepare for disruption, as airports in the South do not have deicing equipment to safely clear runways. Major airlines have issued travel waivers, allowing customers to change their plans without penalty. However, flight cancellations have already been reported across the US, with at least 2,495 flights scrapped.
Road conditions are expected to be treacherous, with slick conditions making major interstates like I-10, I-20, I-30, and I-40 impassable. Officials are warning drivers to take extreme precautions, as travel will become nearly impossible during the peak of the storm.
As the storm system moves east, snowfall amounts will vary depending on location, with some areas potentially seeing totals upwards of 12-18 inches. The polar vortex is also expected to bring record-breaking cold temperatures to parts of the country, with wind chills as low as -50°C reported in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Utility workers are being pre-positioned across the Carolinas, while officials in Oklahoma City are on standby to assist stranded drivers and passengers. New York City has procured 700 million pounds of salt and is deploying thousands of sanitation workers and salt spreaders to combat the storm.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has assured that the state's power grid is ready to handle the winter storm, despite concerns about widespread outages. Stores throughout the South are selling out essential items like generators and flashlights as people prepare for the worst.
With the storm system expected to last through the weekend, Americans are bracing for a prolonged period of hazardous conditions. As one weather expert put it, "Treacherous and hazardous driving conditions are likely due to both the ice and snow accumulations."
As the storm system develops in the Southwest, it's forecast to interact with Gulf moisture and Arctic cold air, leading to a prolonged period of hazardous conditions. Freezing rain, sleet, and snow are expected to fall across a vast swathe of the country, from Arizona to Maine, with temperatures plummeting to record lows in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
Travelers are being advised to prepare for disruption, as airports in the South do not have deicing equipment to safely clear runways. Major airlines have issued travel waivers, allowing customers to change their plans without penalty. However, flight cancellations have already been reported across the US, with at least 2,495 flights scrapped.
Road conditions are expected to be treacherous, with slick conditions making major interstates like I-10, I-20, I-30, and I-40 impassable. Officials are warning drivers to take extreme precautions, as travel will become nearly impossible during the peak of the storm.
As the storm system moves east, snowfall amounts will vary depending on location, with some areas potentially seeing totals upwards of 12-18 inches. The polar vortex is also expected to bring record-breaking cold temperatures to parts of the country, with wind chills as low as -50°C reported in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Utility workers are being pre-positioned across the Carolinas, while officials in Oklahoma City are on standby to assist stranded drivers and passengers. New York City has procured 700 million pounds of salt and is deploying thousands of sanitation workers and salt spreaders to combat the storm.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has assured that the state's power grid is ready to handle the winter storm, despite concerns about widespread outages. Stores throughout the South are selling out essential items like generators and flashlights as people prepare for the worst.
With the storm system expected to last through the weekend, Americans are bracing for a prolonged period of hazardous conditions. As one weather expert put it, "Treacherous and hazardous driving conditions are likely due to both the ice and snow accumulations."
i hope everyone is being safe & taking precautions 
the thought of 2ft of snow in some areas is crazy 
i'm sending all my love & positivity to those in the path of the storm 
let's get thru this together 
! 200 million ppl in usa gotta deal with crazy ice, snow & freezing temps across nearly 2/3 of country 
. airports in south are all messed up cuz they dont have deicer equip 
. flight cancellations already got 2,495 cancelled 
. road conditions gonna be super sketchy too, ppl need to stay safe on roads 
! & wind chills as low as -50°C 
in minnesota nd north dakota? wowzers! utilities are gettin prepped up 
. texas governor says power grid is ready, but we'll see how that goes 
. ppl r stockin up on essentials like generators & flashlights 
. this storm aint lookin pretty 
. I mean, 2 feet of snow in some areas? That's crazy talk! And with the polar vortex bringing record-breaking cold temps, it's going to be a long weekend for most people. I've been following the forecast closely, and I have to say, I'm impressed by how quickly this storm is moving into position. But at what cost? Those airports in the South are really going to feel the pinch without deicing equipment, and I'm worried about all those flights getting cancelled.
. I-10, I-20, I-30... those are major highways that are going to be impassable? That's not exactly what you want when you're trying to travel during a winter storm. And 12-18 inches of snow in some areas? That's just asking for trouble.
. And 2,495 flights scrapped? That's a lot of people stuck at airports.
️. And with temperatures plummeting to record lows in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, it's definitely not going to be a fun weekend 
, but at the same time, I'm concerned about power outages 
️. And 700 million pounds of salt for New York City? That's a lot of rock salt! I hope they can keep up with the snowfall totals 
anyway, back to this winter storm... i'm a bit worried about people traveling, especially on those interstates 
. The fact that major airlines are already issuing travel waivers and flight cancellations is a good indication of just how bad this storm could be 
. Whether you're in Arizona or Maine, make sure you have everything you need to stay safe at home - including warm blankets, non-perishable food, and plenty of batteries for your flashlights 
️.
. It's going to be a long weekend, but with some preparation and caution, I'm confident that we'll get through it 
And on top of that, road conditions are gonna be super sketchy - I don't even wanna drive right now 
. Can we just fast forward to spring already? 
they're gonna be stuck inside with no power for days 
does anyone think they can survive a week without Wi-Fi? 
haha just kidding sorta