A powerful winter storm is set to unleash a blitz of heavy snow, treacherous ice, rain, and extreme thunderstorms across the United States. The storm, which is expected to start from Saturday and will continue till Monday, will affect more than 55 million people.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of blizzard conditions in states from the central plains to the Mid-Atlantic.
The CNN has reported that the powerful weather system is set to batter at least a dozen states with a potent mix of snow, ice, and blizzard conditions, accompanied by winds gusting up to 40 mph. This will create treacherous travel conditions and potential power outages across the big stretch of region.
The NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has warned that, “For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade.”
As per the details, states like Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky are at risk of significant ice accumulations. Winter storm warnings have been issued for other affected states that include Alaska, California, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin, as reported by The Latin Times.
According to the NWS, regions of the eastern states of New York and Pennsylvania are facing “heavy lake-effect snow” coming off the Great Lakes which could lead to as much as two feet (61 centimeters) of snow on the region.
The NWS warned that a blizzard will rage across the Central Plains by early Sunday, and whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded. It added that the temperatures could plummeted to below zero Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius) in some states, while strong wind gusts will compound the danger.
The governors of Missouri as well as of Virginia have declared a state of emergency in their states. They took to social media and warned the residents about expected hazardous weather coming weekend.
I’m declaring a state of emergency for the incoming winter storm currently forecasted to impact Virginia. Our pre-treating preparations are underway, and state and local resources continue to actively monitor the forecast and respond through the weekend. https://t.co/J4gGbyw3el
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) January 3, 2025
