A massive winter storm is set to bring a mix of ice, snow, and frigid temperatures to nearly three-quarters of the US, affecting over 200 million people. The system, which has been dubbed one of the largest in five years, will slowly move eastward, bringing prolonged periods of snow and accumulating ice.
The National Weather Service has issued winter weather alerts for parts of the country, including the Southern Plains, the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. A state of emergency has been declared in 17 states and Washington D.C., with nine states activating their National Guard troops.
Temperatures are expected to plummet to record lows across the South and Mid-Atlantic, with some areas seeing extreme cold temperatures. The polar vortex is also dipping down into the US, bringing unusually cold temperatures that could lead to frostbite in as little as 5-10 minutes.
The storm's track has been forecast to bring heavy snowfall amounts upwards of 12-18 inches from the Southern Plains up into the Northeast. However, the expected totals are still in flux for individual locations as forecast models continue to come together.
Travel will be disrupted by weather conditions on roadways and at airports, with some airlines issuing travel waivers and others adding extra flights to help accommodate the surge of travelers. The roads could become treacherous and hazardous, with officials urging drivers to exercise caution.
Preparations are underway across the country, including utility workers being pre-positioned in key areas, and cities such as New York City deploying large quantities of salt to keep streets and highways clear. In Texas, officials are working overtime to prepare for widespread power outages, having learned from a similar ice storm in 2021 that killed over 200 people.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the forecast, weather prediction models are becoming more reliable as the storm's arrival nears. The main challenge is predicting the type of precipitation that will fall, with slight changes in temperature affecting the forecast dramatically.
The National Weather Service has issued winter weather alerts for parts of the country, including the Southern Plains, the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. A state of emergency has been declared in 17 states and Washington D.C., with nine states activating their National Guard troops.
Temperatures are expected to plummet to record lows across the South and Mid-Atlantic, with some areas seeing extreme cold temperatures. The polar vortex is also dipping down into the US, bringing unusually cold temperatures that could lead to frostbite in as little as 5-10 minutes.
The storm's track has been forecast to bring heavy snowfall amounts upwards of 12-18 inches from the Southern Plains up into the Northeast. However, the expected totals are still in flux for individual locations as forecast models continue to come together.
Travel will be disrupted by weather conditions on roadways and at airports, with some airlines issuing travel waivers and others adding extra flights to help accommodate the surge of travelers. The roads could become treacherous and hazardous, with officials urging drivers to exercise caution.
Preparations are underway across the country, including utility workers being pre-positioned in key areas, and cities such as New York City deploying large quantities of salt to keep streets and highways clear. In Texas, officials are working overtime to prepare for widespread power outages, having learned from a similar ice storm in 2021 that killed over 200 people.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the forecast, weather prediction models are becoming more reliable as the storm's arrival nears. The main challenge is predicting the type of precipitation that will fall, with slight changes in temperature affecting the forecast dramatically.
. A massive winter storm hitting 200 million people? That's a whole lotta shoveling to go around 
. I mean, I'm glad the National Guard is on high alert, but come on, 17 states in a state of emergency? That's just asking for a Netflix password leak 
. And don't even get me started on the road conditions – treacherous and hazardous? More like "who needs traffic jams, anyway?" 
. On a serious note though, I hope everyone stays safe and warm, and that those utility workers in Texas can pull off this power outage thing without too many drama-filled Twitter threads 
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... I'm not sure how much more snow and ice we can handle. It's already been a rough year, and now this? The thought of temperatures plummeting to record lows is giving me the chills 
. On one hand, it's great that people are being proactive and preparing for the worst. Utility workers being pre-positioned and cities stockpiling salt are all good moves.
. And what really gets me is that we're still learning from past disasters like the 2021 Texas ice storm. It's frustrating when it feels like we should be better prepared by now.
. I mean, who needs a fun and relaxing winter wonderland when you can have frozen roads, power outages, and frostbite in 5 minutes? 
And of course, the perfect excuse for everyone to become a "snow expert" overnight, like it's just that easy 
. But seriously, can we please just get some decent weather for once? I'm sick of shoveling snow and scraping ice off my car every other day 
. The National Guard is deployed, cities are salt-ing everything up, and airlines are adding extra flights... it's like the whole country is preparing for Armageddon 
! I just want to get back to my Netflix binge-watching days without having to worry about whether my power will be on or not 
. Can't we just have a decent winter wonderland experience without freezing our butts off? 
200 million people affected? that's crazy! i'm worried about those traveling, roads are gonna be super treacherous 
. and texas... oh man, power outages could be a major issue again 
. at least they're prepping and all, but it's still not looking good 
. the thing that really has me concerned is the polar vortex bringing those record-low temps 
. fingers crossed everyone stays safe 
i'm all for some snow and chill vibes, but not when it comes to safety and power outages 
. i think it's cool that cities are prepping with salt and utilities being prepped...but what about those in rural areas? how are they gonna get help? 
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. on the other hand, 12-18 inches of snow is no joke! i'm all for a good snow day, but not when it comes to work and school 
. lets hope weather models get it right this time...wouldn't want anyone to get frostbite 
, like it's gonna be a real doozy for those 200 million people affected! I'm not sure how our infrastructure's gonna hold up, but I hope everyone's prepared to hunker down for a bit and stay safe. The roads are gonna be sketchy at best, so if you don't have to venture out, just stay indoors and chill for a while 
. I'm also a little worried about the power grid in Texas - those 2021 ice storms were brutal 
. The polar vortex is no joke, guys 
. This storm is like, totally giving me some serious "winter wonderland" vibes 
I heard people in Texas are bracing for power outages again - can't help but think about those 200+ lives lost in 2021 
️! 200 million people are gonna be affected, that's like half the US population!!! 
I'm all about being prepared tho, utilities are prepping ahead of time and cities are deploying tons of salt to keep streets clear 
. Travel is gonna be a nightmare though, roads could get super treacherous and airlines are adding extra flights... fingers crossed everyone gets home safely 
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. But I suppose that's just part of the job! At least the models are getting better with time 
anywayz, lets all just hope everyone stays safe & warm this weekend 
texas is def one of the most prepped states rn 
I'm glad states are declarin' emergencies and gettin' the National Guard ready. Safety first, right?
. On the other hand, I'm kinda glad the National Guard is being activated in 17 states, that's some serious backup 
And with 200 million people affected, it's just not fair that some of them won't get the support they need 
And with frostbite being a real risk, people need to be super careful out there 
. I've got ice melt, snow shovels, and plenty of hot cocoa stockpiled up 
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