Major Winter Storm Threatens 24+ States with Snow, Ice, and Record Cold

Widespread Winter Storm Impacts

• ❄️ A major winter storm is currently impacting Texas to New England, affecting over 150 million people.
• ⚠️ The storm is bringing dangerous snow, ice, and bitter cold, with warnings issued for widespread power outages and potential travel shutdowns.
• ✈️ Up to 4,000 flights are expected to be impacted or canceled due to the severe weather.

Storm Severity and Timeline

• ⚡ This storm could be the biggest of the season and potentially rival historic storms seen in recent years, like the one in Texas five years ago.
• 🗓️ The event is expected to unfold from Friday through the weekend and linger into Monday, making it a multi-day severe weather event.
• 📈 Winter storm watches are in effect across the South, with cold weather alerts for much of the northern U.S., and these alerts are expected to expand eastward.

Expected Snow, Ice, and Cold

• 🌨️ A wide swath of a foot or more of snow is anticipated, along with up to an inch or more of ice.
• 🧊 Even a quarter inch of ice can cause damage, putting the potential totals into perspective for historic snow and ice accumulations in some areas.
• 🥶 The backside of the storm will bring dangerously cold conditions, with wind chills as low as -50 near northern Minnesota and -30 in Chicago by Friday morning.

Travel and Infrastructure Risks

• 🚗 Travel is expected to be difficult to impossible from Friday through Monday due to heavy snow and ice, potentially making roads impassable.
• 🔌 Widespread power outages are a significant concern due to the accumulation of ice.
• 📉 Record lows are likely to fall in parts of the northern United States, Great Lakes, and Midwest.

National Impact

• 🌍 The storm is projected to cut a 2,000-mile swath across the country.
• ⚠️ Dangerous conditions include heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold, creating a hazardous setup for much of the nation.