Millions Brace for Winter Blast Across Eastern US
A vast stretch of the United States, encompassing 35 states and more than 135 million people, is set to endure a wintry onslaught in the coming days. A low-pressure system brewing off the Carolina coast is poised to unleash a mix of rain and snow across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Residents have barely caught their breath from the previous system that brought a smattering of precipitation over the East Coast last Saturday.
The impending storm is expected to bring the heaviest snowfall to areas north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor. Winter storm alerts are in effect for cities such as Charleston in West Virginia, Scranton in Pennsylvania, and Hartford in Connecticut. As the system marches onward, snowflakes are projected to descend on the nation’s capital, Philadelphia, New York City, and eventually Boston throughout the day.
Meteorologists predict snow accumulations ranging from 5 to 8 inches in the affected regions by Sunday, with localized pockets likely to see even higher totals. The first flakes have already begun to fall in southern Pennsylvania, blanketing locales like Harrisburg and Annville.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has wasted no time in mobilizing state agencies to prepare for the wintry deluge expected to dump 4 to 6 inches on the city, 2 to 3 inches on Long Island, and possibly up to 10 inches in the mid-Hudson area. Hochul urged residents to exercise caution, monitor local forecasts, and ensure they are adequately equipped to weather the storm.
The snowfall is anticipated to taper off by Sunday night or early Monday as the system traverses northeastward, affecting states along the I-95 corridor. Snow totals ranging from 2 to 6 inches are on the horizon for these areas.
Meanwhile, bitter Arctic air is poised to plunge temperatures well below seasonal averages across a significant portion of the country over the next few days. The National Weather Service warns that temperature differentials could reach as low as 10 to 40 degrees below average as the frigid air mass sweeps eastward.
From the Rockies to the Mississippi Valley and finally to the East Coast, temperatures are plummeting, ushering in the coldest spell of the winter season thus far and marking a return to bone-chilling conditions not seen in several years. Cold weather alerts are in place across the northern-tier states bordering Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico.
The harshest conditions are anticipated in the northern Plains and Rocky Mountains, where wind chills could plummet to a teeth-chattering minus 30 to minus 55 degrees. While the cold snap is set to persist for the next few days, a gradual return to more seasonable temperatures is anticipated by week’s end.
In the midst of this wintry panorama, record lows could be within reach for several cities, including Kansas City in Missouri, Baton Rouge in Louisiana, Pensacola in Florida, Detroit, Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, and Savannah
