Major Snow and Ice Storm Underway for Eastern Two-Thirds of U.S.

Mother Nature plans on delivering plenty of snowy, icy weather across much of the U.S. over the next several days. A major winter storm has started to expand and track into the eastern U.S.

Bitter cold Arctic air has merged with a “cut-off” low from the West coast to produce wintry weather across the Central and Eastern U.S. today. Around 3 to 7 inches of snow has fallen from the Texas panhandle to the Ohio Valley, including some freezing rain and sleet from eastern New Mexico to southeastern Virginia. Ice accretion amounts of 0.25 to 0.50 inches have been reported causing thousands of power outages. Both the cold front and the low pressure system will continue to advance into the Eastern U.S. throughout the day today.

This will translate into a large swath of 5 to 15 inches or more from the Lower Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Higher totals in the Upper Ohio Valley, Northeast, and New England of 12 to 18 inches is likely where snow rates could reach 1-3" per hour. The Boston area could approach 2 feet of snow today into Monday. Immediately south of this snow, there will be a wintry mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The wintry mess will be found across eastern Texas, much of Arkansas and northern Louisiana into the Tennessee Valley, southern Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas. South of this wintry mix, expect a cold rain for the rest of the southern Plains, Gulf Coast and southern parts of the Southeast.

Significant snow/sleet and ice accumulation is expected. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued across the into the Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Ice Storm Warnings are also in effect from in northern Mississippi, western Tennessee, southwest Kentucky, western and central Carolinas, and northern Georgia. The heaviest freezing rain amounts could exceed a half inch to one inch this weekend in parts of the south as the low tracks eastward. Breezy conditions coupled with heavy ice amounts will likely cause tree damage and prolonged power outages.

Light to moderate snow will linger over New England into Monday before finally exiting early Tuesday morning. 

It's worth noting it will be extremely cold over much of the central and eastern U.S. this weekend with wind chills getting anywhere from 10 to 40 degrees below zero. Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings have been plastered across a large portion of the U.S. for this reason.

Additionally, these cold weather conditions have caused several ice jams in the Great Lakes area. The presence of these ice jams has caused several Flood Advisories to be issued among Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. Further to the south, scattered Flood Advisories/Warnings have been put in place for heavy rainfall in eastern Tennessee, northern and southern Alabama, eastern Mississippi, and southern Louisiana.

Be sure to download the WeatherBug app to stay up to date on the latest on this changing weather. It’s never too early to have a supply kit packed in case of inclement weather. A simple kit including a weather radio, water, blankets, batteries, and non-perishable food items will go a long way in the event of a power outage. It’s always best to avoid traveling in rough weather as the roads will be dangerous.