More than 200 million people across the United States are in the path of a powerful winter storm expected to bring widespread snow, ice, and brutal cold across a 2,000-mile stretch of the country through the weekend, forecasters said.
The storm, which could affect nearly two-thirds of the U.S., is projected to be the most severe winter weather event in at least five years.
Freezing rain, snow and rain began sweeping across the Southern Plains on Friday and are forecast to move into the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys on Saturday, before reaching the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic by Sunday into Monday.
Meteorologists warned the system will be slow-moving, allowing snow and ice to accumulate for prolonged periods. Winter weather alerts are in effect across 35 states, impacting at least 185 million people. Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., have declared states of emergency, and nine states have activated National Guard units.
Extreme cold is compounding the danger. Temperatures plunged to 21 degrees below zero in parts of Minnesota on Friday, with wind chills even colder. Record-low temperatures are expected across portions of the Southern Plains and Mid-Atlantic, as the polar vortex dips southward.
Heavy snow is forecast across a wide band of the country, with up to a foot expected in parts of the Texas Panhandle and Ozarks. The central Appalachians and parts of the Northeast could receive as much as two feet, forecasters said. New York City may see between 6 and 12 inches of snow.
Ice accumulation poses a major threat in the South, with up to one inch of ice possible in parts of northeastern Texas, northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee, increasing the risk of power outages as frozen rain weighs down power lines.
Travel disruptions are already mounting. Major U.S. airlines have issued travel waivers and hundreds of flights have been canceled, particularly at airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville and Atlanta. An estimated 2,400 flights nationwide were canceled on Saturday alone.
Road conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly, especially along major interstates including I-10, I-20, I-35, I-40 and I-55. Authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and to carry winter emergency kits if driving is unavoidable.
Cities and states are preparing for the storm’s impact. New York City has deployed more than 2,000 sanitation workers and 700 salt spreaders, while Texas officials said the power grid is fully prepared to handle the surge in demand.
Emergency departments across the country are also bracing for a rise in cold-related injuries, including frostbite and hypothermia, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Meteorologists said forecast confidence has increased as the storm nears, though winter weather remains difficult to predict due to the fine balance between temperature and precipitation type.
The storm is expected to linger into early next week, with lingering ice and snow likely to persist well after precipitation ends.
