Major Winter Storm to Impact Central and Eastern U.S. with Snow and Ice
A significant winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snow and ice from the Southern Plains to the Northeast, affecting millions and causing potential disruptions.
A major winter storm is set to impact a vast region of the United States, bringing heavy snow and damaging ice from the Southern Plains through the Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The storm is expected to develop over the southern and central U.S. late this week and strengthen as it moves eastward between January 23 and 25.
Snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches are possible across a wide swath of the country, with localized amounts exceeding a foot. Several large cities lie within the projected snow band, and snowfall could occasionally come down at rates of an inch or more per hour.
Freezing rain and sleet are forecast farther south across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Carolinas, through the weekend into early next week.
The cold accompanying the storm is likely to intensify its effects, speeding up snow and ice buildup on roads, complicating cleanup efforts, and raising concerns for residents who could be left without heat if power is lost. In places with significant snow and ice accumulation, travel problems and power outages could extend into early next week.
Several U.S. state governors have issued emergency declarations in response. A large swath of winter weather alerts were issued, including winter storm warnings and ice storm warnings stretching from the Four Corners region to as far northeast as the state of Maine, comprising a near 2000-mile stretch of alerts and affecting more than 230 million people.
Residents in the affected regions are advised to prepare for winter conditions before Friday, as travel disruptions, power outages, and hazardous conditions are expected from Texas to the Carolinas.
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