Widespread snow and a major cold surge are impacting nearly half of the United States ahead of the holiday weekend, placing about 18 million people under cold-weather alerts and up to 10 million more under winter advisories. Lake-effect bands have dumped more than 26 inches near Buffalo, and gusts over 40 mph led to near-whiteout conditions in parts of Minneapolis. Hazardous travel has resulted in multiple crashes, including a 30-car pileup near Erie, Pennsylvania, and forecasters warn an uncertain coastal storm Sunday could add snow from Long Island into southern New England. Temperatures are expected to fall further with record lows possible from Florida to Washington early next week.
Relentless Snow and Dangerous Cold Grip Nearly Half of U.S. Ahead of Holiday Weekend
A person cleans snow during a cold day in Wheeling, Ill., on Wednesday. (Nam Y. Huh / AP)(Nam Y. Huh)
Bitter cold and heavy snow are affecting nearly half of the United States as the holiday weekend begins, with roughly 18 million people under cold-weather alerts and up to 10 million more under winter-weather advisories.
Winter alerts span large sections of the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes region, the Appalachians and upstate New York. Cities included in warnings and advisories are Fargo, N.D.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Des Moines, Iowa; Green Bay, Wis.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Syracuse, N.Y.
Lake-effect snow has been especially severe around the Great Lakes, dumping more than 26 inches in suburbs of Buffalo, New York, with additional accumulation expected downwind of the lakes. Meteorologists warn that localized bands of lake-effect snow and intense snow squalls can produce rapid snowfall rates and dramatically reduced visibility.
The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities warned of near-whiteout conditions in parts of Minneapolis on Thursday after wind gusts topped 40 mph while snow showers moved through the area. Strong winds and slick roads have created hazardous travel conditions from Michigan through Ohio and into Illinois.
Several traffic incidents have been tied to the winter systems, including a chain-reaction pileup involving about 30 vehicles near Erie, Pennsylvania. Travelers are advised to postpone nonessential trips and to monitor road and airport conditions closely.
Forecast Through Early Next Week
By Saturday, light snow is expected to spread into the Northeast along the Interstate 95 corridor, with accumulations generally forecast between a dusting and a couple of inches. The highest totals — several inches — are most likely in the well-known snowbelt areas downwind of the Great Lakes.
On Sunday a separate coastal storm is expected to lift up the Atlantic coast and could produce snow from eastern Long Island into southern New England. Forecasters emphasize uncertainty: final snowfall amounts will depend heavily on the storm’s exact track. Current guidance suggests light snow for Boston and Cape Cod before the system moves offshore, but totals could range from a dusting to plowable amounts.
A deep Arctic cold surge is affecting much of the eastern U.S., stretching from the Appalachians south into Florida. In Florida, 55 of 67 counties were under freeze warnings, with morning feels-like readings near 37°F in Orlando and 42°F in Miami; northern Florida reported wind chills in the 20s. Homestead residents reported sightings of frozen iguanas as temperatures plunged overnight.
The Northeast is expected to get even colder: forecasters say the coldest readings are likely Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Record-low temperatures are possible from Florida up through Washington state, with readings forecast to be roughly 10 to 20 degrees below average. Another blast of cold is expected to push into the central U.S. on Saturday, keeping areas east of the Rockies below normal into early next week.
Safety Tip: Check local National Weather Service updates, prepare emergency kits for cold weather, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy snow and follow local road advisories.
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