Latest snow storm forecast maps show fresh predictions for where winter weather will hit hardest

As tens of millions of Individuals hunker down for a massive winter storm sweeping the nation, new maps are providing up to date forecasts of snow and ice accumulations. 

Greater than 200 million individuals are underneath winter storm threats. The storm is predicted to journey over 2,300 miles across 35 states. Eighteen states and Washington, D.C., have declared states of emergency, and not less than 9 states have activated their Nationwide Guards. The sprawling climate system resulted within the most flight cancellations in a day because the begin of the COVID pandemic in March 2020.

“A big, long-duration winter storm will deliver widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to New England by way of Monday,” the Nationwide Climate Service says. “Widespread journey disruptions, extended energy outages, and huge tree harm is probably going.”

Forecasters additionally warned of frigid temperatures, gusty winds and harmful wind chills. Greater than 93 million individuals are underneath chilly climate alerts.

Areas on the heart of the storm, together with components of Kentucky and Virginia, might see as a lot as two toes of snow between Saturday and Monday. Main cities together with New York City, Boston and Oklahoma Metropolis might see between 12 and 18 inches of snow. The outer bands of the storm might deliver between 1 and 6 inches to giant swaths of the nation.

Maps present winter storm forecast

This map reveals the storm system spanning from New Mexico and Texas to the Northeast, with components of many states forecast to see 12 inches of snow or extra.

The southern a part of the nation will see accumulations of each ice and snow. Ice accumulations can be more dangerous than snow, officers warned. The burden of ice on energy strains is extra more likely to trigger outages. It is usually tougher to clear than snow and might make for harmful driving circumstances. 

Ice accumulations of as much as 1 inch are forecast for spots of the South. Elements of Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee would possibly see as much as .75 of an inch of ice. Areas alongside the outer bands of the storm are anticipated to see as much as a half inch.

On Saturday night, icy circumstances started accumulating in Tupelo, Miss., with a layer of ice blanketing the town. 

“Catastrophic impacts are anticipated the place freezing rain quantities exceed a half inch, with over one inch totals potential in components of northern Louisiana, central and northern Mississippi, southern Tennessee, and the southern Appalachians,” the Nationwide Climate Service says.

Freezing temperatures are compounding the storm’s results. Snow that melts can shortly flip to ice. Wind chills are shortly bringing the mercury into the negatives. 

“If it will get out forward of us and it turns into snow packed, strong sheets of ice, we get down into single digits — not lots you are able to do,” Justin Pierce, a plow driver with the Nashville Division of Transportation, informed “CBS Saturday Morning.” 

Over 43 million individuals are underneath an excessive chilly warning, which implies temperatures or wind chills are forecast to fall beneath 5 levels Fahrenheit over the subsequent 12 to 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service. Over 22 million individuals are underneath an excessive chilly watch, which implies these circumstances are anticipated within the subsequent 24 to 48 hours. 

Greater than 146 million individuals are underneath a chilly climate advisory, which the climate service stated is issued when both temperatures or wind chills are anticipated to fall to or beneath 15 levels however stay about 5 levels Fahrenheit. 

“Within the wake of the storm, communities from the Southern Plains to the Northeast will deal with bitterly chilly temperatures and dangerously chilly wind chills,” the climate service says. “This may trigger extended hazardous journey and infrastructure impacts.”