A massive winter storm is set to blanket 27 states with up to a foot of snow, ice, and freezing rain, creating dangerous travel conditions and widespread power outages.
Winter Storm Garnett will begin Friday, sweeping through the Northern Plains before moving into the Midwest and hitting the East Coast by Saturday.
States bracing for heavy snowfall
The storm is expected to impact a wide area, including North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
The Northeast will also be hit hard, with heavy snow predicted in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Millions under winter weather alerts
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued weather alerts for 30 million people from the eastern Rockies to New York City and Boston. Officials warn of dangerous road conditions, ice accumulation, and potential power outages. The NWS is advising residents to avoid travel if possible and to carry a winter storm kit with essentials like a shovel, flashlight, blankets, and extra clothing.
Storm Garnett could be the biggest of the season
AccuWeather meteorologists are calling Garnett “the biggest storm of the winter” for parts of the Northeast. Forecasts show six to 12 inches of snow expected from the Dakotas to Boston, with some areas seeing up to 18 inches. Cities like Minneapolis, Green Bay, and Buffalo could see significant accumulation, while areas like Fargo, Sioux Falls, and Detroit may get up to three inches.
Treacherous ice storm could cause widespread outages
In addition to heavy snow, a dangerous mix of sleet and freezing rain is expected from Iowa to the New England coast, creating hazardous conditions on roadways and increasing the risk of power outages. Some areas could see over a quarter inch of ice buildup on trees, power lines, and sidewalks, making travel nearly impossible.
Cities at risk for major ice accumulation include Des Moines, Peoria, Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia, and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Another winter storm on the horizon
As Garnett moves offshore by the end of the weekend, meteorologists warn that more severe winter weather is on the way. A new storm originating in Texas is expected to hit early next week, bringing more snow and ice to the Midwest and Northeast.
With a “parade of storms” continuing into mid-February, residents in the eastern U.S. should prepare for more winter chaos in the days ahead.
