A potentially dangerous winter storm will sweep the United States beginning on Saturday, bringing heavy snow, hazardous ice, rain, and severe thunderstorms across a 1,300-mile stretch, affecting an estimated 62 million people through Monday.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” the NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center warned, as regions from the Plains to the East Coast brace for hazardous conditions. Snow, ice, and blizzard conditions, accompanied by 40 mph gusts, threaten power outages and travel disruptions.
The storm will ignite in the Plains Saturday afternoon, fueled by moist Gulf air, and expand rapidly. Snow and ice will reach the Mississippi Valley and Midwest by Sunday, the Ohio Valley and Southeast Sunday night, and the East Coast by Monday. “Considerable disruptions to daily life … dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures” are anticipated, according to the Winter Storm Severity Index.
Kansas City and Indianapolis could see record-breaking snowfall, while areas south of the snow zone face significant icing, potentially immobilizing travel and triggering power outages. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, urging early travel adjustments.
On the storm’s southern side, severe thunderstorms could hit Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, posing risks of damaging winds, hail, and possible tornadoes. After the storm exits Monday, Arctic cold will plunge temperatures up to 30 degrees below normal, solidifying snow and ice impacts for days.
