More than 160 million people across the United States are bracing for an unusually severe winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerously low temperatures from Friday.
The storm is forecast to sweep eastward from the High Plains and Rocky Mountains, creating what the National Weather Service has described as “extremely dangerous” conditions. Meteorologists warned that an Arctic blast accompanying the system will bring sub-zero temperatures and wind chills that pose a serious risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin.
Transportation officials have warned of widespread travel disruption, with airports in several major cities expecting delays and cancellations throughout the weekend. Heavy snowfall could also trigger power outages across large parts of the country.
The slow-moving storm is expected to blanket cities including Memphis, Nashville, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. Heavy snow is forecast from the Southern Rockies and Plains through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast.
Weather models suggest that areas stretching from Colorado through West Virginia and up to Boston could receive more than a foot of snow. The coldest wind chills in the Northern Plains could drop below -50°F (-46°C), with numerous low-temperature records likely to be broken.
Freezing conditions are also expected across much of the south-eastern United States.
Governors in several states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, have declared states of emergency, allowing authorities to mobilise emergency services and National Guard units.
Airlines have begun offering flexible rebooking options amid concerns about cancellations, while forecasters have urged motorists to avoid travel. The National Weather Service warned that driving could become “nearly impossible” during the peak of the storm.
In Canada, freezing temperatures are already gripping parts of the country, with snowfall expected in eastern and Atlantic regions early next week.
