Forecasters predict the storm will impact both common cold and warmer climates, leading to dangerous travel conditions.
**Severe Winter Weather System Set to Blanket U.S. Amid Record Low Temperatures**
**Severe Winter Weather System Set to Blanket U.S. Amid Record Low Temperatures**
A major winter storm threatens to disrupt lives across the U.S. with extreme cold and heavy snowfall.
A significant winter weather event is anticipated to strike vast areas of the United States, as tens of millions prepare for one of the most severe winter storms in over ten years. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), this storm will initiate its eastward movement after brewing in the central U.S., which has already begun to experience the onslaught of heavy snowfall and biting cold.
The storm is particularly alarming for regions that typically do not experience such harsh winter conditions, including states like Mississippi and Florida, where residents have been warned of potentially hazardous weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirms that the rare intensity of this storm is largely due to the polar vortex—a mass of frigid air swirling near the north pole.
“This meteorological event could result in the heaviest snowfall some areas have seen since the winter of 2011,” noted AccuWeather meteorologist Dan DePodwin. He warns of sustained unseasonably low temperatures that could persist for more than a week, greatly affecting daily routines and travel on the East Coast starting Sunday evening.
Unfortunately, the central U.S. is expected to face “considerable disruptions,” making driving conditions perilous, with forecasts indicating widespread road closures and reports of motorists becoming stranded. Specifically, locations in Kansas and Indiana could see accumulation surpassing 8 inches (20.3 cm), while blizzard conditions could lead to dangerous whiteouts in parts of the Midwest.
As the storm progresses eastward, cities such as Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia are bracing for their share of winter weather from Sunday night into Monday, with snowfall amounts ranging from 5 to 12 inches expected in Virginia. Southern states—including Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi—anticipate severe thunderstorms coinciding with these extended winter conditions.
Weather expert Ryan Maue expressed concern about the situation, labeling it “a potential disaster that has been rare in recent years.” Major airlines have begun to respond, with American, Delta, and Southwest airlines waiving change fees for passengers to accommodate potential flight interruptions caused by the weather.
