A significant winter storm is expected to bring snow and ice over a 1,500-mile-long area spanning vast portions of the Plains and Mississippi Valley to regions of the Appalachians and the Atlantic coast from this upcoming weekend through early next week, caution meteorologists at AccuWeather. The storm is anticipated to cause widespread travel disruptions and will be followed by bitterly cold air in many areas.
This storm is shaping up to be the first far-reaching cross-country winter storm of the season for the central and eastern United States, likely impacting travel during the final days of the holiday break. Snow accumulation sufficient for shoveling and plowing is forecast for much of South Dakota and Nebraska to the Interstate 70 and 80 corridors across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio in the Central states.
To the south of the snow zone, an icy mix containing sleet and freezing rain is projected to stretch from around I-40 to near I-70, impacting areas from the Plains to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Cities such as Kansas City, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Springfield, Missouri, could experience significant ice accumulation leading to hazardous travel conditions.
As the storm progresses towards the Appalachians and the Atlantic coast, the region expected to receive accumulating snow will extend from near I-68 to near I-80. Major metropolitan areas in the Northeast within this zone include New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore. Meanwhile, an icy zone may extend across parts of North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southern Virginia, potentially affecting cities like Richmond, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
As the storm continues moving eastward, the extent of snow and ice will be influenced by a separate storm system over southeastern Canada. Depending on the track of the Canada storm, the U.S. storm and the areas of snow and ice could be pushed farther south or allowed to move north along the Atlantic coast. A more southern track may result in dry conditions for New York City and Philadelphia, snow for Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington, D.C., and an icy mix for Atlanta, Charlotte, and Greenville, South Carolina.
The storm is expected to be strong enough to trigger thunderstorms to the south of its path, potentially leading to severe weather along the I-10 and I-20 corridors. As the storm carries a growing area of Arctic air, frigid temperatures are forecast to sweep into the Southern states in its aftermath, possibly bringing some of the coldest temperatures seen in years before mid-January.
Following this event, additional winter storms are likely to occur, possibly sending snow and ice toward the Gulf Coast states. One such storm is being monitored for later next week, which could originate near the Gulf and move northward, impacting the Atlantic coast with snow and ice.
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