As millions of Americans brace for a significant winter storm sweeping across the country, updated maps are forecasting extensive snow and ice accumulations. The National Weather Service warns that over 230 million people are currently under various winter storm advisories, with adverse weather conditions predicted across 35 states. As a precaution, nineteen states, along with Washington, D.C., have declared states of emergency, and at least ten states have activated their National Guards to assist in potential crisis response.
The states under emergency declarations include South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Alabama, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Texas, and West Virginia. According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, this storm is the largest in decades, impacting a vast population across numerous states.
FEMA officials have mobilized numerous distribution centers throughout the South and East, stocked with more than 7 million meals, over 3 million liters of water, and essential supplies like blankets and generators. Forecasters are also warning of dangerously low temperatures, gusty winds, and extreme wind chills. Regions such as Kentucky and Virginia may face as much as two feet of snow between Saturday and Monday, while major cities like New York City, Boston, and Oklahoma City could receive between 12 and 18 inches.
Furthermore, maps showcasing the storm’s trajectory indicate that the southern states will face hazardous combinations of snow and ice. Officials highlight that ice accumulation is particularly dangerous as it can lead to power outages and treacherous driving conditions. Areas of the South may see ice accumulations of up to one inch, affecting states such as Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
With freezing rain already impacting roads in Texas and Alabama, nearly 200 utility workers from Florida are positioned in Georgia and South Carolina to support potential recovery efforts. Tennessee is experiencing heavy snowfall, with predictions of up to six inches expected in a single day. Authorities are urging residents to remain indoors and avoid travel; however, numerous drivers have already encountered hazards on the roads.
Nashville, for instance, has only 45 snow plows available to clear hundreds of miles of roadways. Transportation officials warn that as the storm shifts from snow to sleet, plowing may become ineffective. Already, icy conditions are forming in locations like Tupelo, Mississippi, where a layer of ice has covered the city.
The National Weather Service anticipates “catastrophic impacts” in regions where freezing rain may exceed half an inch, particularly in northern Louisiana, central Mississippi, southern Tennessee, and the Southern Appalachians. With over 47 million people under extreme cold warnings, temperatures and wind chills are expected to plunge below 5 degrees Fahrenheit in the coming hours, exacerbating the storm’s impact.
As communities in the Southern Plains and Northeast brace for bitterly cold temperatures and hazardous wind chills, the weather service cautions of potentially prolonged travel disruptions and infrastructure challenges in the aftermath of the storm.