A Major Snowstorm is Forecast to Impact Over 200 Million People in the Central and Eastern United States

A major snowstorm is expected to spread from New Mexico and Colorado on Friday to Massachusetts and Maine on Sunday, affecting over 200 million people. This storm could potentially be the biggest snowstorm in years, with significant snowfall predicted across a large area. According to AccuWeather Senior Vice President Evan Myers, this storm is rare in its combination of snow, ice, and bitter cold over such a vast region and is expected to cause travel disruptions and halt daily life for days.

The snow is expected to fall along a swath of the central and eastern United States, spanning over 2,000 miles and including major cities such as Albuquerque, Denver, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Washington D. C. , Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. The snow has already begun in Colorado and New Mexico, as well as parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It is predicted to expand eastward across the Mississippi and Ohio valleys on Saturday and reach the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians on Saturday night. By Sunday, the snow is forecast to cover much of New England.

The arrival of Arctic air is setting the stage for this storm. Without it, the storm may not have been as severe or widespread. However, the northern tier of the Midwest is already becoming too dry for steady snow to move up from the south. The storm is expected to last 36-48 hours in some areas before dry Arctic air takes over and shuts off the snow later this weekend or early next week.

Cities like Chicago and Detroit will be on the northern edge of the storm and may receive some additional moisture from Lake Michigan, leading to higher snow accumulations. The storm is dual-pronged, with one part weakening as it moves towards the Tennessee Valley, while the other strengthens along the Atlantic coast.

There is a possibility of warm air moving into parts of the Tennessee Valley and East, causing some sleet or freezing rain to mix in and limit snowfall accumulations. However, even with this mix, heavy snowfall is still expected, and travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly. Roads, highways, and runways are likely to become snow-covered, and snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour may overwhelm road crews’ ability to keep roads open. The southern shorelines of lakes Erie and Ontario may also receive a boost in snowfall totals due to the added moisture from the nearby open waters.

Due to the massive scope of this storm, travel disruptions are expected to continue well after the storm has ended. Temperatures are expected to drop significantly, making it challenging to keep roads and runways clear. Deicing operations and runway plowing at airports may become ineffective, resulting in ground stops, flight delays, and cancellations.