Record Cold and Snow Slam Southeast: Forecast and Impact

Brutal Winter Weather Grips the Southeast

• 🥶 Arctic weather is impacting over 150 million Americans from Florida to New York, with dangerous conditions expected to last for days.
• ❄️ Significant snow totals have been recorded in the Carolinas, with some spots in the Appalachians receiving nearly 2 feet of snow.
• 🌬️ Near blizzard conditions were reported along the North Carolina coast, with winds gusting to tropical storm strength.
• 📈 Charlotte, NC, experienced its fourth snowiest day on record, with snowpack expected to remain for days due to sub-freezing temperatures.

Extreme Cold Reaches Florida

• 🌡️ Sub-freezing temperatures have extended into Florida, with West Palm Beach recording 30°F, the coldest since 1989.
• ⚠️ Extreme cold warnings were issued for the Space and Treasure Coasts, with wind chills dropping into the teens.
• 🍊 Concerns are high for killing frost impacting the interior of Florida's orange groves.

Extended Cold and Winter Outlook

• 📉 While a slight warm-up is expected, below-normal temperatures are predicted to persist across much of the central and eastern United States for the rest of the month.
• 🗓️ The western US, however, is trending towards warmer-than-normal conditions for February.
• 🐾 Despite Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter, the forecast suggests a high chance for colder-than-normal temperatures through the end of the month.

Power Outages and Recovery Efforts

• 💡 Over 100,000 people remain without power due to recent storms and ice, particularly in Mississippi.
• ⏳ Cleanup efforts are expected to be slowed by the persistent snowpack and sub-freezing temperatures.