A huge winter storm is expected to affect 62 million people across the United States from Saturday (January 4) until Monday (January 6). The storm will spread across 1,300 miles, bringing snow, ice, rain, and severe thunderstorms to the Midwest and Northeast. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), certain places may have their greatest snowfall in more than a decade.
The storm will start in the Central Plains on Saturday, move east to the Ohio Valley on Sunday, and reach the Mid-Atlantic on Monday. The Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, is anticipated to see more than a foot of snow. Areas with temperatures above freezing, such as the central Atlantic coast, may encounter strong thunderstorms.
Governors from affected states are taking steps. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has proclaimed a state of emergency, asking residents to remain vigilant and prepared for the storm. Missouri Governor Mike Parson has ordered the National Guard to standby. Major cities, including Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C., are preparing roadways and establishing warming centers.
The storm is likely to produce major disruptions, such as travel delays and power outages. The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning of dangerous driving conditions and widespread closures. The NWS Weather Prediction Center predicts that the most severe weather will occur along the Interstate 70 Corridor, affecting areas such as St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The storm will pass through the East Coast by Monday night, but temperatures are forecast to plummet, with the eastern United States experiencing temps 30 degrees below average. The chilly snap might linger through mid-January.
Lake-effect snow is also expected to drop up to five feet of snow across portions of the Great Lakes. As of Saturday morning, over 17 inches of snow had fallen in Erie, Pennsylvania, with sections of upstate New York reporting more than 30 inches.
“Snowfall totals are likely to become even more impressive as snow continues downwind of Lake Ontario into Sunday,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick stated.