Preparations are underway as an arctic blast hits interior and southern regions of the country, bringing snowstorms to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, followed by deadly cold.
“The coldest air of the season and in many cases the coldest in years,” the National Weather Service said in an important message about the icy atmosphere today.
Federal forecasters said high pressure over Canada was pushing arctic air south and east, leaving only areas west of the Rocky Mountains spared.
In fact, more than 212 million people, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population, were under winter weather watches and warnings Saturday evening, including winter storm warnings, winter weather advisories, and extreme cold watches.
At the same time, air masses are creating friction between warm air and abundant precipitation in the Gulf and Deep South, and this conflict is expected to produce snowstorms and cold waves that will move through Texas, the Gulf Coast, the Deep South, and the central region. . The Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast and parts of New England, Weather Service forecasters said.
Thunderstorms are expected across parts of Florida and the Southeast, while a storm front is expected to bring snow to the Mid-Atlantic, along the Appalachians, the upper Ohio Valley and even into the Northeast where the storm begins Monday. federal weather forecaster said.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, warned of severe weather and heavy rain during the day, followed by bitter cold starting Sunday night.
The National Weather Service described the storm as an “intensifying cyclone” in a forecast discussion Saturday, and described it as an “intensifying cyclone” that spanned from West Virginia to I-95 west of urban Northeastern cities, and as far north as Downeast Maine. It was announced that 8 inches of snow could fall. .
The weather bureau said it is likely to move from the north and east into New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Canada’s Prince Edward Island by the start of the new business week.
Temperatures will plummet with the storm
Parts of the Midwest are frozen, with the Warren, Michigan Weather Service forecasting temperatures to drop below 6 degrees by Tuesday night. Warren Mayor Lori M. Stone declared a state of emergency Saturday to expedite assistance to homeless people who may be exposed to the deadly cold, according to a statement.
In Columbus, Ohio, five community centers will serve as warming stations, the city’s Recreation and Parks Department said in a post to X.
Federal weather forecasters also warned that temperatures as low as 25 degrees below zero were possible in northern Indiana, southwestern Michigan and northwestern Ohio from Sunday night into Wednesday morning.
Subzero temperatures are expected in Chicago late Saturday, with temperatures expected to drop to 30 degrees below zero overnight Monday into Tuesday, the weather service said. Residents were warned of the possibility of ice jams on rivers, frozen spray on boaters on Lake Michigan and other waterways, and frozen water pipes.
Chicago city officials published a list of centers scheduled to open on the city’s website on Monday.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont urged voters to prepare as 600 snow plows were on the job and 4 to 10 inches of snow is expected starting late Sunday afternoon.
“Motorists should now plan ahead and get to their destinations before the snow starts falling Sunday afternoon,” the governor said in a statement. “If you can, stay home and watch soccer.”
A winter weather warning was issued for Sunday and Monday, according to the New York City Emergency Management Agency. This storm is expected to bring 2 to 5 inches of snow, with some areas potentially seeing more.
Temperatures are also expected to drop below freezing on Monday, warning travel conditions could become “dangerous,” the ministry said in a news release.
“Snow is expected to fall on Sunday, and a cold front is expected to hit the city tomorrow night into Wednesday. To keep streets safe and clean, city officials are implementing snow removal procedures to help unsheltered New Yorkers. We are reaching out to connect you to shelter,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
New York Gov. Cathy Hochul warned that temperatures will “feel” below 25 degrees in much of the state Monday through Wednesday. “We encourage you and your family to be prepared for snow and extreme cold,” she said in a statement Saturday.
Sunday morning lows at Highmark Stadium, home of the Bills, were expected to be 15 degrees as the Buffalo Bills take on the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round playoffs on Sunday in Orchard Park, New York. .
With 8 to 12 inches of snow possible in parts of New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy will declare a state of emergency for all counties in the state at 8 a.m. Sunday, according to a statement. did.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said the city will join other cities in canceling celebrations celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. due to the life-threatening Arctic explosion, and due to wind-related He said the cold weather is expected to bring temperatures down to below 25 degrees Celsius. in the region, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“Baltimore City, with severe winter weather expected this weekend, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s MLK Day Parade out of an abundance of caution for the safety of participants and spectators,” the Mayor said. wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your understanding and support.”
The cold weather is also expected to hit many parts of the South and Sunbelt, where snow gear is rare.
Federal weather forecasters in Houston warned that windchill-enhanced temperatures, which take into account the way the air feels when wind and other factors are included, could mean a low of 25 degrees below zero between midnight and noon Sunday.
Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist in Harris County, Texas, home to Houston, said at a news conference that wind-driven temperatures are forecast to drop into the teens and 20s by Monday. It is necessary to complete preparations for the
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said at a news conference that the city will open 10 warming centers.
A cold weather advisory is expected to be in effect for much of south-central Louisiana and southeast Texas from early Sunday morning until Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service, which covers New Orleans, said a “deep freeze” will begin Monday north of Interstate 12 and spread across the region by Wednesday, with wind chills expected to reach 5 to 15 degrees. He called out that it was expected.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced Friday that the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade and march scheduled for Monday will not take place. Due to the extreme weather, city leaders will instead hold a small awards ceremony at the MLK Memorial Monday morning, she said.
Temperatures could drop near zero in central Alabama Sunday night into Monday, the National Weather Service in Birmingham said. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said in a statement that seven warming centers across the state began opening Saturday and will remain open through Monday.
Temperatures in the Atlanta area will be between 8 and 12 degrees, and with wind chill it could feel as low as -5 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. A cold weather warning for the region is in effect Sunday night through early afternoon.
“Please start taking precautions this weekend,” the agency said in a post to X.
The South Carolina Division of Emergency Management urged residents to prepare Saturday for Arctic wind gusts expected by Sunday night. The state said in a statement that snow and ice could affect parts of the state into Wednesday.
