A rapidly moving winter storm is making its way through the Midwest on Saturday, bringing a dangerous mix of snow, sleet, and ice. Parts of the Northeast are expected to receive up to a foot of snow by Sunday morning. Nearly 90 million people from the Midwest to the Northeast are under winter alerts issued by the National Weather Service, warning of hazardous travel conditions and potential power outages.
The storm is anticipated to create low visibility, snow-covered roads, and slippery conditions, posing risks for traffic and power disruptions. The Upper Great Lakes could see up to 8 inches of snow by Saturday night, while upstate New York and southern New England may receive up to a foot of snow by Sunday morning. Additionally, a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is forecasted for the Ohio Valley and northern Mid-Atlantic regions.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in preparation for the storm, emphasizing the possibility of dangerous travel conditions with near-zero visibility. Emergency protocols have been activated, including expedited road treatment and waiver of trucker hour limits.
Multiple weather systems are expected to impact the Northeast over the next few days, with below-normal temperatures predicted across the continental U.S. Major cities such as Green Bay, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston are all under various winter weather advisories and warnings.
The storm coincides with Super Bowl weekend, potentially affecting travel plans for fans heading to New Orleans. Airports in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Boston are bracing for delays and cancellations due to snow and ice. Meanwhile, those in New Orleans can expect mild weather with highs in the low 80s.
Looking ahead, colder temperatures are on the horizon with two more weather systems and an Arctic blast expected for the upcoming week.
A persistent weather pattern is bringing unseasonably cold temperatures to the Northeast, with the mercury dipping 10 to 20 degrees below the usual seasonal norms. Meteorologists explain that this phenomenon is due to the jet stream’s current positioning, which is channeling storms across the northern United States. The jet stream, a high-altitude current of air that guides weather systems, is currently oriented in a straight line from west to east, resulting in the rapid movement of storms across the northern regions of the contiguous United States. This consistent pattern has led to below-average temperatures persisting throughout much of the country this winter. Forecasters predict that new storms will sweep in every few days until there is a shift in the jet stream’s trajectory, a change that may not occur until the latter part of February. The storms expected over the upcoming weekend are just a preview of the active winter weather that meteorologists anticipate for the month of February. CNN Meteorologist Mary Gilbert provided insights for this report. To stay updated with more news and newsletters from CNN, sign up for an account at CNN.com.
