Frozen frenzy: Winter storm marathon hits eastern U.S.

Winter is unleashing its fury! Relentless storms are set to hammer the eastern half of the U.S. for weeks. Snow, ice, and freezing rain will create chaos on the roads and threaten power lines. The brutal pattern may not break until late February.

Jet Stream Traps Storms in a Loop
The culprit? A stubborn jet stream. This fast-moving air current is locked in place, guiding storms from west to east. Until it shifts, waves of winter weather will continue to batter the same regions over and over again.

First Storm Hits Hard
On Wednesday, the first storm began forming over the central Mississippi Valley. It quickly spread icy conditions from Missouri to Maine. By Wednesday night, it gained strength, unleashing a dangerous mix of sleet, freezing rain, snow, and rain across the Midwest and Northeast.

Ice Is the Biggest Threat
Hazardous ice is the storm’s worst weapon. A dangerous combination of cold air and unseasonably warm southern temperatures is fueling the mess.
Light but dangerous ice will stretch from Missouri to New England.
The worst icing—at least 0.10 inches—will hit northern Indiana, Ohio, central Pennsylvania, and the mountains of Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Some areas in Pennsylvania and western Maryland could see more than 0.25 inches, which could topple trees and power lines, causing outages and making roads impassable.

Messy Mix Across the Region
Snowfall will be limited to a few inches in the northern Great Lakes, Upstate New York, and parts of New England. Most areas will endure a sloppy mix of sleet, freezing rain, snow, and rain.

• Chicago: Brief sleet and freezing rain Wednesday evening, changing to freezing rain overnight.
• Cleveland: Freezing rain Wednesday night, possibly mixed with sleet.
• Pennsylvania: Widespread sleet and freezing rain Thursday morning, with central and southern areas seeing the worst icing.
• New Jersey & New York: A brief start of snow early Thursday before turning to sleet and freezing rain.

By Thursday afternoon, warmer air will surge in, melting some of the ice. But don’t get too comfortable—another storm is lurking just around the corner!

Another Storm Right on Its Heels
Late Friday, a new storm will develop over the Plains and rapidly intensify on Saturday. By Sunday, it will unleash a nearly identical mess of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain.
The exact track is still uncertain, but disruptive icing is likely again. Some regions will have barely 24 hours to recover before the next storm strikes.

Storm Train Keeps Rolling
The onslaught won’t stop there! Forecast models suggest another major storm next Tuesday and Wednesday. And yet another could arrive by mid-February. Until the jet stream shifts, winter’s icy grip will hold firm.

Stay Alert, Stay Safe
Stay alert, stay safe, and brace for impact—the frozen frenzy is far from over!