Nearly 60 million Americans are under weather threat alerts as a monstrous winter storm gears up to slam parts of the country with heavy snow and debilitating ice.
Weather experts forecast that impending winter storm Blair will affect sweep across the Great Plains and the Northeast this weekend into early next week, affecting cities such as Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Kansas City, Omaha, St. Louis and Indianapolis.
Forecasters predict that the Rocky Mountain region as well as the Central and Northern Plains areas will be hit by heavy snow, strong winds and freezing rain.
‘The storm is shaping up to be the first widespread cross-country winter storm of the season for the central and eastern United States and will negatively affect travel during the final days of the holiday break,’ AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Residents in Wichita, Kansas City and Omaha can expect blizzard-like conditions due to heavy snow and strong winds.
‘A wintry mix could start as early as this afternoon and transition to snow Sunday afternoon,’ the National Weather Service field office in Kansas City said on X.
‘Wind gusts around 35-40 mph on Sunday could yield possible blizzard conditions.’
Over time, the hefty winter storm is expected to shift toward the Missouri region, whose residents should expect similar, hazardous conditions.
Nearly 60 million Americans are under weather threat alerts as a monstrous winter storm gears up to slam parts of the country with heavy snow and debilitating ice. Pictured: A morning snowstorm produced a snow squall and a period of intense snowfall across central Iowa on January 2, 2025
This index, from NOAA’s National Weather Service, attempts to scale the impacts from winter weather, taking into account factors such as snowfall, accumulated snow on rooftops, ice accumulation, the potential for a flash freeze and snow
‘The storm is shaping up to be the first widespread cross-country winter storm of the season for the central and eastern United States and will negatively affect travel during the final days of the holiday break,’ AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski
By Sunday, an estimated 7 million people, largely residents of the Mississippi Valley, will be placed on tornado watch as damaging winds and hail are expected to overwhelm the area.
Residents of Jackson, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lake Charles should be especially vigilant on Sunday, forecasters warn.
In the Mid-Atlantic and central Appalachian region, heavy snow is expected to arrive overnight into Monday morning before the powerful storm is predicted to move offshore.
Kansas, Missouri and Illinois are forecasted to receive the highest snowfall totals, as forecasters predict snowfall anywhere from 9 to 16 inches.
Meanwhile, four to nine inches of snowfall will coat parts of the Mid-Atlantic as well, weather officials predict.
Forecasters also suspect significant icing will stretch across the affected regions wreaking havoc on residents as they predicts mass power outages, tree damage and dangerous travel conditions.
‘This will be an all-hazard storm,’ Dan DePodwin, Director of forecast operations at AccuWeather, reported Friday morning.
‘Ice storms like this have been known to cause power outages across a pretty large area. Certainly now is the time to stock up on supplies. If you do have a generator, make sure you know how to operate it, make sure it’s not in a place that it is venting into your home,’ he added.
‘A wintry mix could start as early as this afternoon and transition to snow Sunday afternoon,’ the National Weather Service field office in Kansas City said on X. ‘Wind gusts around 35-40 mph on Sunday could yield possible blizzard conditions’
By Sunday, an estimated 7 million people, largely residents of the Mississippi Valley, will be placed on tornado watch as damaging winds and hail are expected to overwhelm the area
‘This will be an all-hazard storm,’ Dan DePodwin, Director of forecast operations at AccuWeather, reported Friday morning
A significant drop in temperatures is also anticipated for the ‘eastern two-thirds’ of the country, NBC reported.
Highs will drop to a chilling 10 to 25 degrees below local average temperatures beginning on Sunday and are likely to last through Friday, January 10.
The most extreme temperatures are expected in the Northern Plains – where overnight lows will dip as low as -20 degrees, with wind chill values around a menacing -40 degrees.
‘The power could be out for days at a time in some communities when dangerously cold air invades in the wake of the storm,’ Sosnowski stated.
‘There may be a great need for shelters to be set up to account for the population that could be affected.’
The gathering storm comes just days after several other regions across the US have been rocked by intense snowfall.
On Thursday and Friday mornings, winter storm warnings were issued in four states as meteorologists predicted nearly 15 inches of snowfall in some areas.
The affected states included parts of the western US, in Wyoming and Colorado, as well as the eastern coast affecting states like New York and Vermont.
In these areas, forecasters saw ‘very hazardous’ travel conditions as near 50 mile per hour wind gusts slammed Vermont and New York downing tree branches and power lines, causing sporadic outages.
The hulking storm comes just days after several other regions across the US have been rocked by intense snowfall. Pictured: An East Coast resident clearing snow from inundated sidewalks
Kansas, Missouri and Illinois are forecasted to receive the highest snowfall totals, as forecasters predict snowfall anywhere from 9 to 16 inches
A lesser four to nine inches of snowfall will coat parts of the Mid-Atlantic as well, weather officials predict
Ahead of the damaging winter storm officials advised residents to be prepared in case of emergency.
‘If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,’ officials advised.
New York and Vermont recently saw the heaviest snowfall, with some areas receiving up 14 inches of accumulation.
Snowfall totals in Wyoming ranged anywhere from one to 10 inches, and six to 12 inches in Colorado.
In New York, Saint Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties were among the most affected.
Meanwhile, in Vermont, counties including Chittenden and Lamoille saw the strongest impact.
These states were issued a winter storm warning until 7am ET on January 3.
The cold temperatures are here to stay as forecasters expect the artic chill to linger and could lead to more winter storms in the eastern US through mid-January.