A potentially historic winter storm is sweeping across the United States, putting more than 235 million people in over 40 states at risk from dangerous snow, ice and extreme cold. The massive weather system, spanning a 2,000-mile stretch from Arizona to Maine, is expected to be the largest winter storm to hit the country in at least five years, with conditions beginning Friday and continuing through Monday.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and advisories affecting approximately 177 million Americans as the polar vortex dips southward from its usual position over the North Pole, bringing unprecedented cold to much of the nation. Wind chill temperatures have already plunged to more than 50 degrees below zero in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota, with forecasters warning that frostbite can occur within just five to ten minutes of exposure.
Heavy snowfall is expected across a wide band of the country, with the Texas Panhandle and Ozarks regions potentially receiving a foot or more of accumulation. The highest totals, possibly reaching up to two feet, are forecast for the central Appalachians and parts of the Northeast. Major cities including New York could see between six and twelve inches of snow as the storm progresses through the region over the weekend.
The governors of at least ten states have declared states of emergency in preparation for the storm, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration covering 134 counties across the state, recalling the devastating 2021 ice storm that led to more than 200 deaths.
Ice accumulation poses a particularly dangerous threat across the southern states, with three-quarters to one inch of ice expected in northeastern Texas, northern Mississippi, southwestern Tennessee, and areas from northern Georgia through the Carolinas. Strong high pressure is funneling arctic air southward against the Appalachian Mountains, creating conditions for dangerous icing from Atlanta to Charlotte.
Travel disruptions are expected to be severe, with major airports including Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville and Atlanta likely to experience widespread cancellations and delays. Airlines have begun issuing travel waivers as over a thousand flights have already been canceled ahead of the storm's arrival. Major interstate highways including I-10, I-20, I-30, I-35, I-40, I-44, I-49 and I-55 face hazardous conditions, and authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel throughout the affected regions.
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