Winter storm to bring blizzards, cold temperatures to millions

Winter has arrived.

On the occasion of the winter solstice, a blockbuster blizzard will spread a multitude of weather hazards — and holiday travel chaos — across the central and eastern United States.

With a very strong arctic cold front beginning to plunge south in the central plains on Wednesday and in the southern plains early Friday, forecasters warn temperatures could drop by 20 degrees or more within hours.

More than 34 million Americans received a wind chill warning on Wednesday as brutal cold and potentially dangerous chills threatened the northern plains en route to the East Coast by Friday.

“This storm really means business in the Midwest and Great Lakes,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines told USA TODAY.

LONGER DAYS AHEAD:What you need to know about the winter solstice

Much of the eastern two-thirds of the country can also expect heavy snowfall, damaging winds and even some heavy rainfall over the holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Here’s what you need to know about the pre-holiday winter storm:

What are the expected effects of the blizzard?

Midwest: Midwestern U.S. states up to the Great Lakes can expect blizzards due to snow and high winds, and light to moderate snowfall is forecast. Heavier snow may be more than a foot above the Great Lakes through Friday. St. Louis, Detroit and Chicago will all experience storm effects. “The problem in these areas is not the amount of snow, but the extreme cold that accompanies the snow and the extreme wind,” Kines said.
Northeast: Most rain is expected ahead of the storm system in the east on Thursday and Friday, according to AccuWeather. “The cold air is rising to the east and once the rain stops in many places, temperatures will drop,” Kines said. This could lead to a rapid freeze in areas such as New York City by Friday. Combined with the new lunar tide cycle, dangerous coastal flooding could occur from northern New Jersey to northeastern Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service.
South: More than 4.4 million people have been issued a hard freeze warning in parts of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. “Even all the way to Texas and eventually Florida is going to get some of this cold,” Kines said. Widespread chills below freezing could creep into Texas and parts of the Deep South by the end of the week, the weather service said.

TRAVEL FOLLOWING:Flight cancellations are expected to increase as the winter storm moves across the plains and Midwest

How will the blizzard affect holiday travel?

While more than 112 million people were willing to travel at least 50 miles away for the holidays, according to AAA, the blizzard — which is expected to rapidly intensify into a bomb cyclone this week — could cause dangerous air and road travel, forecasters predicted.

Wind gusts in excess of 50 mph and falling snow were expected to unleash snow storms across the northern and central plains through the Great Lakes, according to the National Weather Service. The combination is likely to lead to treacherous travel regardless of heavy snowfall.

WHAT IS A BOMB CYCLONE?:A winter hurricane, explained

The worst air travel delays Wednesday were expected in major hubs like Minneapolis and Denver amid the increasingly powerful storm to the east, AccuWeather said. Falling temperatures could also lead to flash freezes on roads where standing water doesn’t dry up quickly, according to the weather service.

SNOWSTORM ON THE WAY:The blizzard expected to sweep across the northern US before Christmas could strengthen into a bomb cyclone

Blizzard’s low temperatures can break records

A low-pressure system developing along the storm’s front boundary is expected to rapidly strengthen over eastern Michigan Thursday evening, the National Weather Service said.

Meteorologists say the rapid strengthening could lead to record-breaking frigid temperatures over parts of the Gulf Coast and eastern U.S. by Friday.

“In Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, some depth records are likely to be set there,” Kines said.

WHAT DEFINES A BLIZZARD?Heavy snowfall and high winds are expected to move across the country

WHAT IS THUNDER SNOW?Explain how a thunderstorm can produce snow

Staying safe in life-threatening cold temperatures

Meteorologists expect the most common weather threat in the coming days to be related to the extremely cold air mass that will cool the central and eastern parts of the US.

Wind chill readings can drop to minus 70 F over the central High Plains, according to the National Weather Service. This level of cold could cause frostbite in exposed skin within minutes, hypothermia and even death with prolonged exposure, forecasters warned.

WHAT IS WIND COOL?Understanding the wind chill index and how it is calculated

“We can’t tell people not to go outside, but it’s best to stay inside because it’s a dangerous storm,” Kines said.

Winter storm to bring blizzards, cold temperatures to millions

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