Thursday, January 23

Arctic blast brings widespread snow, frigid temperatures across U.S., with 175 million under cold weather alerts

As the southern states prepare for bitterly cold temperatures with infrequent snowfall, and the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions prepare for another round of rain and snow, more than 175 million people US are under some kind of cold weather alert.

The cold follows another system that dumped snow and rain in patches on the East Coast on Saturday.

According to the National Weather Service, a very cold Arctic airmass will plunge temperatures 10 to 40 degrees below normal during the next few days, causing varying degrees of cold weather alerts to be in effect across much of the nation.

From northern-tier states near the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, cold weather alerts are issued. The northern Plains and the Rocky Mountains will see the worst cold, with wind chill readings as low as minus 30 to minus 55 degrees.

‘Substantial snowfall’ forecast in Houston

Officials were battling a different storm produced by low pressure in Houston, where temperatures were dropping to freezing and below Sunday night. The storm was predicted by federal forecasts to bring rain, freezing rain, and snow from Monday into Tuesday.

The Houston Independent School District and other public schools in the area were also closing Tuesday due to the weather, while Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport was slated to close at 12 a.m. local time.

In a forecast discussion on Sunday, the National Weather Service stated that the snow totals would rank this as one of the most significant snowfall events in the Greater Houston Area’s history.

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Although city workers were applying deicing agents to the roads, Mayor John Whitmire advised drivers to remain stationary throughout the storm. At a press conference on Sunday, he stated, “I have been convinced that we are about to experience a very serious and dangerous weather episode.”

In a forecast discussion on Tuesday, the National Weather Service predicted that the storm will move eastward along the Gulf Coast and southeast United States.

The meteorological agency said that rare snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches were likely starting Tuesday in Mobile, Alabama, and as far east as Pensacola, Florida.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast forecast

Rain and sporadic snow started to move throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Sunday afternoon.

As of Sunday night, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, had received 5.2 inches of snow, while Grantsville, Maryland, had received 12 inches.

As the system advances to the Northeast, affecting states along the Interstate 95 corridor, the snow was predicted to cease late Sunday or early Monday. Two to six inches of snow could fall. Early on Monday, New England will continue to see lingering snow showers, with the most of the snow melting before daylight.

Only trace amounts of snow have been observed so far, according to the weather service, with light snow falling Sunday night in Hartford, Connecticut.

State agencies were instructed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to get ready for the storm, which may deliver up to 10 inches of snow to the mid-Hudson region, 2 to 3 inches to Long Island, and 4 to 6 inches to New York City.

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Although winter weather is nothing new to New Yorkers, Hochul issued a statement urging everyone to ensure that they and their families are ready for the snow and bitter cold, use caution when traveling, and keep an eye on their local forecast.

A few inches of snow fell in New York City earlier on Sunday night; three inches were reported in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood.

Lake effect snow will form downwind of Lake Ontario and Erie in New York as well. Through Sunday evening, totals will be between two and six inches, with some locations perhaps seeing as much as eight inches. Late Sunday, Buffalo and Albany reported light snowfall.

In a statement released Sunday night, Philadelphia municipal officials declared a snow emergency, which forbids parking on main thoroughfares and other streets used by first responders during the storm.

A state of emergency was proclaimed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and went into effect on Sunday morning. With 8 to 12 inches of snow predicted in some areas of the state, Murphy asked citizens to abide by safety precautions and avoid the roadways.

It was predicted that between 4 and 8 inches of snow will fall in Boston between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

The week ahead

By the end of the week, temperatures in regions affected by the Arctic blast will progressively return to normal, with highs in the South remaining 5 to 15 degrees below normal into the weekend.

The week may also see some record lows in places like Detroit, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Pensacola, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri.

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