Severe winter storm alert for US: Over 60 million under weather warnings
Forecasters predict this could be one of the most intense snowfalls in a decade, accompanied by extreme cold.
KATHMANDU: The United States is bracing for a massive winter storm, with weather warnings issued for over 60 million people across 30 states.
Forecasters predict this could be one of the most intense snowfalls in a decade, accompanied by extreme cold.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that warnings stretch from Canada’s vast regions to the U.S. East Coast, encompassing states like Kansas, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Missouri, and New Jersey.
Heavy snowfall is expected, with 15 to 30 centimeters forecast from Ohio to Washington, D.C. Authorities in several states, including Kentucky and New Jersey, have declared emergencies in preparation for the storm.
Even typically warm areas like Florida are expected to experience unusually cold conditions. Meteorologists attribute this extreme weather to a “polar vortex,” a phenomenon caused by frigid Arctic air sweeping southward.
The storm is set to hit the East Coast starting Sunday evening local time, with New York’s northern areas already recording at least three feet of snow.
Washington, D.C., is bracing for five to nine inches of snow, prompting the mayor to declare an emergency until at least Sunday evening.
The storm’s timing could also disrupt Monday’s congressional session, where members are expected to convene for discussions related to certifying the recent presidential election results.
In Maryland, areas near Baltimore, such as Annapolis, are forecast to receive eight to twelve inches of snow. Other affected states, including Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, are also under alerts, with reports of up to 14 inches of snowfall in northern Missouri and 10 inches in Kansas.
“This may be the heaviest snowfall some regions have seen in over a decade,” NWS stated, urging residents to exercise caution and prepare for hazardous conditions.
