Winter weather alerts were in place for some 100 million people across 22 states from Nebraska to Massachusetts Thursday as a series of winter storms descend on northern and eastern states, bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain.
The cold snap could cause power outages and difficult travel conditions during Thursday’s commute and beyond, forecasters warned.
A storm already affecting much of the Great Lakes, upper Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic will push further into the Northeast, meaning a very icy morning for many, the National Weather Service said in an updated early Thursday.
Up to half an inch of ice is expected in eastern West Virginia, northern Virginia and parts of south-central Pennsylvania, which could cause scattered power outages and tree damage.
Up to a quarter inch of ice is forecast for north-west of the I-95 corridor, from Washington to Philadelphia. “This amount of ice is capable of making untreated roadways treacherous,” the NWS said. Between 2 and 5 feet of snow could fall across much of New England.
The NWS warned this week that even a small amount of freezing rain — when rain freezes upon hitting the ground, making surfaces slippery — can cause havoc on roads. “It’s true, freezing rain IS the worst. Even just a glaze can make stepping outside, and especially driving, very dangerous,” the service said on X.
Icy conditions and snow caused more than 50 flight cancellations and more than 30 delays since 3 a.m. Thursday, according to FlightAware.
The severe weather is expected to end quickly Thursday evening and will be replaced by high winds as a new low pressure weather system makes its way from southeast Canada. There is a blizzard warning in place for the Keweenaw Peninsular in Michigan.
The West Coast will receive some strong winter weather too: heavy rain is expected across California, with several feet of snow possible in the Sierra Nevada and more than a foot in higher elevation areas of northern California and southern Oregon.
This snow will move towards the Great Basin and northern Rockies on Friday and will reach the Northern Plains with a 70%-90% chance of at least 4 inches of snow.
Meanwhile, as the north and east freeze southern states are is experiencing record high temperatures of the time of year, with some areas from the Southwest to the Southern Plains reaching the 70s and even 80s.
