ARLINGTON, VA. – Over 60 million Americans were placed under winter weather and storm advisories on Sunday as a large portion of the Midwest and East, already affected by frigid temperatures, prepared for a significant storm following more than 2 feet of snowfall in certain areas since Friday.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham stated, “Over a dozen states are expected to feel the impact of this storm. The accumulating snow, which could reach or surpass half a foot, is likely to halt travel in locations like Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati.”
Further east, governors in Kentucky and Virginia declared states of emergency in anticipation of the weather system. The National Weather Service cautioned that some regions might encounter their most substantial storm in more than a decade.
“The storm is still developing,” mentioned meteorologist Rich Bann of the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center. “But this event presents multiple hazards, ranging from heavy snow in the Plains to significant icing on roads further south.”
In Arlington and the Washington, D.C. area, where snow is often scarce during winters, the storm was predicted to arrive on Sunday night. The Weather Service warned of total snow and sleet accumulations ranging from 5 to 9 inches, with isolated spots possibly receiving up to 10 to 12 inches.
Additionally, a second round of heavy snow might occur late Monday before precipitation ceases, according to the local winter weather advisory.
“Today is the day, Virginia,” the Virginia Department of Transportation posted on social media on Sunday. “Wintry weather is approaching. Given the anticipated persistently low temperatures during and after the storm, hazardous travel conditions are expected. Plan your travel around the storm.”
Multiple school systems planning to resume classes on Monday following a two-week winter break were contemplating postponements due to the storm. Residents like Emily Roszkowski, who has been teaching in Arlington schools for 11 years, were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to enjoy the snow with their families.
Nicole McCullough, a school counselor in the district for nine years, expressed her excitement for the snow, emphasizing the joy of experiencing all four seasons in the D.C. area.
The storm, stretching from the Midwest to the East Coast, was projected to bring freezing rain and ice to regions in southern Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, creating hazardous road conditions and potential power line disruptions. Authorities advised that a broad area spanning from Nebraska and Kansas to Ohio, Indiana, southwestern Pennsylvania, and northwestern Virginia might see snow accumulation ranging from 1 inch to a foot, with the possibility of power outages due to ice.
AccuWeather indicated that up to 30 inches of snow could fall in certain areas from northeastern Kansas through northern Missouri to west-central Illinois, making driving nearly impossible in some locations.
In addition, some areas were in the process of recovering from significant snowfall, with Erie, Pennsylvania, receiving over 17 inches of snow as of Sunday morning.
Buried under nearly 2 feet of snow, according to AccuWeather, Upstate New York has experienced over 30 inches of snowfall in recent days. Looking ahead, a period of frigid temperatures is anticipated. AccuWeather forecasts temperatures to plummet 12-25 degrees below normal for early January across large portions of the central and eastern United States in the upcoming week. Additionally, strong winds ranging from 20-35 mph are expected on Sunday and Monday in the Central states and parts of the Tennessee Valley, exacerbating the cold conditions.
Meteorologist Alex Duffus from AccuWeather cautioned that if the cold wave reaches its full intensity, maximum temperature deviations could drop 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical averages from the northern Plains and Midwest to the interior Southeast. Conversely, in the storm’s warm sector further south, robust thunderstorms are likely to develop, potentially generating severe wind gusts along the Gulf coast.
Air travel disruptions are already being felt, with over 1,200 U.S. flights on Sunday having been canceled and an additional 4,000 delayed by 2 pm ET, as reported by FlightAware. Southwest and American Airlines are among the most affected, each having canceled more than 100 flights on Monday. Amtrak is also facing challenges, having canceled more than two dozen trains on Sunday in the Midwest and East, with over 50 trains already canceled for Monday.
Meanwhile, California is not immune to the turbulent weather patterns. AccuWeather’s forecasters predict a significant wind event targeting parts of California this week. The renowned Santa Ana winds are set to sweep across Southern California starting Tuesday and persisting through Wednesday evening. Wind gusts are expected to peak between 50-70 mph, with isolated gusts of up to 80 mph, as highlighted by AccuWeather meteorologist Gwen Fieweger. Certain mountainous areas could experience gusts reaching 100 mph. Even downtown Los Angeles is not exempt from the weather disturbances, with gusts forecasted to reach up to 30 mph.
In an update by Reuters, it is highlighted that a massive storm system has been causing chaos with snow, ice, and cold weather conditions across various regions. The impacts of this extreme weather event are far-reaching, affecting not only travel but also posing potential dangers to local populations. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation continues to unfold.
