A dangerously cold front is engulfing much of the United States, with extreme winter temperatures expected to blanket the country this weekend. As of Tuesday morning, cold weather alerts are in effect for approximately 43 million people, spanning from the Upper Midwest down to the central Appalachians and into the Northeast, including central Florida.
Wind chills are plunging to alarming levels, with readings as low as 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below zero in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions. The interior Northeast and the Ohio Valley are experiencing chills between 5 to 10 degrees below zero, while coastal areas along the Interstate 95 corridor, including major cities like Washington and New York City, face single-digit temperatures. High temperatures across the country are expected to be 15 to 25 degrees below average, with the frigid conditions set to persist into Wednesday.
In Philadelphia, many schools opened late on Tuesday in response to the severe cold. While this particular cold snap hasn’t broken records, a more severe influx of arctic air is anticipated later this week, potentially bringing wind chills plummeting to 40 to 50 degrees below zero in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with record low temperatures extending as far south as Texas.
Snowy conditions are still affecting several regions, with 15 million individuals currently under winter weather alerts in the Great Lakes area. Michigan has seen particularly treacherous conditions; a series of whiteout episodes culminated in a 100-car pileup near Grand Rapids, resulting in multiple injuries as vehicles were thrown off the road.
Two significant areas of snow are under observation: lake-effect snow across the traditional snow belt and a clipper system moving through the Upper Midwest. Most cities, including Minneapolis, Madison, and Chicago, are expected to receive less than one inch of snow, except for the Tug Hill Plateau in New York, which could see an additional 2 to 4 feet of accumulation before Wednesday.
Looking ahead, an expansive winter storm is expected to impact millions from the central Plains to the East Coast from Friday through Sunday. This storm has the potential to deliver widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, which could lead to power outages and create life-threatening travel hazards. Early forecasts suggest snowstorms will initiate across the Rockies and central Plains on Friday, with a transition to a wintry mix resulting in ice from northern Texas to southern Arkansas. By Saturday, snow will likely spread across central Plains, the Mississippi, Tennessee valleys, and extend into North Carolina. The Midwest, Ohio Valley, and mid-Atlantic could see significant snow on Sunday, with icing conditions persisting in the Carolinas and Southeast.
The coming days will test the resilience of many as they brace for a significant winter storm, marking what is traditionally a challenging time for municipalities and citizens alike. As winter tightly grips the nation, preparation and vigilance will be key to navigating these frigid conditions.