BOSTON — A significant winter storm is approaching the East Coast, with millions of residents expected to experience several inches of snow on Sunday, leading to a severe drop in temperatures across many regions, stretching from the Northern Plains all the way to Maine.
Winter storm warnings have been activated by the National Weather Service for several areas in the Mid-Atlantic region and will extend into Monday morning, forecasting snow accumulations reaching up to half a foot (approximately 15 centimeters). In New England, particularly in parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut, upwards of 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snow are anticipated starting Sunday afternoon.
According to meteorologist Marc Chenard from the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, as many as 70 million individuals may be under winter storm advisory as the event progresses, affecting areas in New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions. Major cities including Philadelphia, New York, and Boston are projected to receive several inches of snow, particularly in their outer regions.
“Travel conditions will become hazardous, especially from Washington, D.C. up through the entire I-95 corridor, extending inland as the day progresses,” noted Chenard. He also warned that by Monday morning, untreated roads and surfaces are predicted to be risky for travel.
The impending snowstorm is just the preliminary component of what could be a tumultuous week for weather conditions.
A considerable portion of the eastern United States is bracing for what might be the coldest temperatures experienced this winter, possibly in several years. Starting Sunday and persisting into the upcoming week, regions from the Rockies to the Northern Plains may see temperatures plunge to between minus 30 degrees F (around minus 34 degrees C) and minus 55 degrees F (approximately minus 48 degrees C). Wind chill factors have already dipped to as low as minus 40 degrees F (minus 40 degrees C) in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Moreover, sub-zero wind chill effects are expected to reach as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley.
The weather forecast for Washington, D.C. on Monday prompted the decision to move President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to the harsh cold expected. “It’s guaranteed to be a chilly day in D.C. on Monday,” Chenard stated, forecasting temperatures in the 20s along with wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph (48 kph).
Similar to the earlier cold snap experienced this month, the latest dramatic drop in temperature can be attributed to a disturbance in the polar vortex, which is typically a concentrated area of cold air residing near the North Pole.
Although the cold air may ease slightly as it flows southward and eastward, the Central and Eastern U.S. will still be enduring extreme temperatures, with highs only reaching the teens and 20s on Monday and Tuesday. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are likewise predicted to experience highs in the same range, with lows potentially dropping into single digits or below zero degrees F (minus 18 degrees C), and wind chills dipping further below freezing.
Starting early this week, the southern regions of the country may also feel the impact of this cold front, with around 30 million individuals likely to experience an unusual mixture of wintry precipitation including snow, sleet, and freezing rain. This less typical weather pattern is expected to unfold from Texas to northern Florida and up to the Carolinas. These conditions are likely to initially strike Texas on Monday night, subsequently extending across the Gulf Coast and Southeast from Tuesday into Wednesday.
The combination of arctic air interacting with a low-pressure system over the Gulf is the primary catalyst behind the storm’s development, which could result in significant snowfall just south of the Interstate 20 corridor extending into northern Louisiana and Mississippi, along with a mixed precipitation scenario near the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Mobile, Alabama.
In preparation for the inclement weather, Louisiana’s Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency on Saturday, urging residents to stay prepared and keep a close eye on weather updates.
