The National Weather Service issued a winter weather watch, storm warning or advisory for 30 states on Thursday, Jan. 22 morning ahead of a massive winter storm slated to bring nearly three feet of snow, high winds and life-threatening temperatures.
The Great Lakes Region Bracing for More Snow
The NWS offered a significant warning for the Great Lakes region as Michigan and New York continue to battle excessive snowfall.
“A potent mid-level trough pivoting through southeastern Canada will continue producing lake effect snow showers downwind of the Great Lakes through Friday. In addition to the lake effect snow, snow showers and snow squalls are likely to develop behind the associated strong surface cold front moving through the Northeast today, with a second round of snow squalls possible on Friday,” the National Weather Service said.
“The first round of snow squalls is likely to develop across Upstate New York this morning before moving through New England, with multiple rounds of snow squalls possible in some areas. The second round is expected Friday afternoon and should move steadily west to east across the region.”
Cities east of Lakes Erie and Ontario are expected to see an additional snow accumulations 2 to 3 feet in the most persistent bands with winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
The South Expecting Major Snowfall
While the Great Lakes region continues to battle lake effect snow, the Southern and Eastern portions of the United States are bracing for potentially record snowfall with widespread freezing rain causing significant damage.
“Widespread freezing rain and sleet are expected south of the primary snow axis, crippling portions of the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley on Friday,” the NWS said. “Significant and damaging ice accumulations are likely, with the potential for long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions. Dangerous ice and sleet impacts shift east into parts of the Southeast, Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic this weekend.”
States like Alabama and Louisiana are expected to see upwards of an inch in freezing rain, causing potentially significant damage.
“Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees and topple utility poles and communication towers. Ice can disrupt communications and power for days while utility companies repair extensive damage,” the National Weather Service warned. “Even small accumulations of ice can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians. Bridges and overpasses are particularly dangerous because they freeze before other surfaces.”
Other Southern states like Tennessee are expecting to see over six inches of snow and a 0.5 inches of freezing rain as the NWS warns residents to expect power outages and tree damage while suggesting travel in the region could be “impossible.”
Kentucky is expected to see upwards of 14 inches of snowfall, while Arkansas could see more than eight inches of snowfall and dangerous ice accumulations over the weekend.
How to Prepare
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to be without power during portions of the storm as freezing rain and ice bring down trees and power lines.
Those included in the winter weather warnings can receive tips from Men’s Journal on how to properly prepare for the freezing rain and heavy snow. “Ideally, when you winterize the garage you will be able to prevent damage to your vehicles, tools, and any other stored items, while protecting any essential infrastructure, like pipes or vents,” one article reads.
A full how-to guide on how to winterize your sprinkler system explains the best way to properly prepare for the cold.
In total 28 states have received winter storm warnings as a result of the major storms hitting the United States over the next three days: West Virginia, Texas, Arizona, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Kentucky, New Mexico, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, New York, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, Montana and Vermont.
Over 150 million people are expected to be impacted by the storm.
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