The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that the slow-moving storm will create “extremely dangerous” conditions as it travels east from the High Plains and Rockies toward the East Coast. Sub-zero temperatures and brutal wind chills could pose serious risks of hypothermia and frostbite.
Transportation officials and airlines are already warning of major travel disruptions, with thousands of flights cancelled and roads expected to become nearly impassable.
Storm Path and Snowfall Forecast
The storm is forecast to blanket large parts of the country, including Memphis, Nashville, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Heavy snow is expected from the Southern Rockies and Plains through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast. According to the NWS, areas from Colorado to West Virginia and up to Boston could receive more than a foot of snow.
New York City and nearby regions in northeast New Jersey and southeast New York may see 10 to 14 inches of snow between Sunday and Monday. Wind chills there could drop as low as -10°F (-23°C).
Record-Breaking Cold Expected
Southern New England, including Boston, could receive 12 to 17 inches of snow, with wind gusts reaching 30 mph. Wind chills in the region may plunge to -15°F (-26°C).
The NWS says numerous low-temperature records may be broken, especially across the Northern Plains, where wind chills could fall below -50°F (-46°C).
Freezing temperatures are also forecast across a wide portion of the south-eastern United States, with parts of North Texas already experiencing sleet and icy conditions.
States Declare Emergencies and Prepare
Governors in at least 16 states, including Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and South Carolina, have declared states of emergency to mobilize resources and emergency personnel.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state has more than 1,600 snow plows and 114,000 tonnes of salt ready. She urged residents to work from home if possible and warned that shoveling snow can increase the risk of heart attacks.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that thousands of sanitation workers, along with 2,200 snow plows and 700 salt spreaders, will be deployed. Public transport will continue running, but residents are advised to stay home.
Travel Disruption and Power Concerns
More than 3,200 flights were cancelled for Saturday, with over 4,800 cancellations on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Airlines are allowing passengers to rebook flights without extra fees in many cases.
Meteorologists warned that driving may be “nearly impossible” during the peak of the storm.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said there is “no expectation whatsoever” of a statewide power grid failure like the one experienced during the deadly 2021 winter storm, though localized outages remain possible.
Cold to Linger After the Storm
Even after the storm moves out, a strong Arctic air mass from Canada is expected to keep temperatures frigid across the eastern US into next week, according to the NWS Weather Prediction Center.
Meanwhile, Canada is already experiencing extreme cold, with additional snowfall forecast for eastern and Atlantic regions early next week.
