National Weather Service Issues Warning For Catastrophic Ice Accumulation, Heavy Snow & Bitter Cold

The National Weather Service wants to get the word out that winter storm watches, warnings, advisories and ice storm warnings are in place millions of Americas. Heavy snowfall is forecast from Oklahoma to the Northeast where over a foot of snow is possible for some locations through Monday. In addition to the expected influx of snow, widespread freezing rain and sleet are expected across the Southern Plains, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee Valley, and the Southeast. The winter storm will cause significant to locally catastrophic ice accumulations with the potential for long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions. Be prepared, be safe and stay up to date with the latest forecast for your area at weather.gov.

Heavy snow over the Central/Southern Plains and Middle/Lower Mississippi Valley

Catastrophic Ice Accumulation from the Southern Plains to the Southeast

Bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills from the Southern Plains to the Northeast

High pressure moving southward from Central Canada will bring bitterly cold temperatures over the Plains, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. While low pressure lingers over the Gulf Coast, a second area of low pressure moves northeastward along the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Coast through Sunday.

The system will produce a significant, long-duration winter storm, with widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to New England, lasting from Friday through Monday. The storm develops heavy snow across a broad region from the Southern Rockies and Plains through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast. Snowfall totals exceeding twelve inches are likely across the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, creating widespread travel disruptions.

In addition, widespread freezing rain and sleet are expected across the Southern Plains, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee Valley, and the Southeast. The storm will cause significant to locally catastrophic ice accumulations with the potential for long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions. In the wake of the storm, communities from the Southern Plains to the Northeast will contend with bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills. This will cause prolonged hazardous travel and infrastructure impacts.

Moreover, heavy lake-effect snow will develop over the Great Lakes from Friday through early Saturday morning. By Sunday, heavy snow from the storm over the Ohio Valley will inch into the Great Lakes. Additionally, upslope flow will create snow over parts of the Northern/Central High Plains through late Friday night. Furthermore, an upper-level low moving into Northwestern Mexico will develop lower-elevation rain and higher-elevation snow over the Southwest from Friday into Saturday.

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