It’s expected to move eastwards in the coming days bringing a mix of snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures.
Storm could bring the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures since 2011 The huge winter storm that could bring the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in over a decade, with tens of millions of Americans expected to be affected.
Those low temperatures will be on the east coast as well, where the storm is expected to reach by Sunday evening.
A total of 30 states have been put under a weather alert as the storm is expected to travel eastwards across the country.
Parts of the US unaccustomed to severe cold, including Mississippi and Florida, have been warned to expect treacherous conditions.
Kansas is expected to experience bitterly cold winds, with lows of -29C predicted.
Over the next two days, a winter storm is expected to swoop across the United States, bringing with it bitterly cold wind chills to parts of central Kansas.
Wind chills of -20F (-29C) and lower are predicted by the National Weather Service (NWS) branch in Wichita, a significant city in south-central Kansas.
The NWS posted a weather map on X that shows that the cities of Russell and Salina will experience some of the coldest winds on Monday morning.
Temperatures are already dropping elsewhere.
In a different post, NWS Washington reports that at its office close to Dulles Airport, a significant international travel hub close to downtown Washington, DC, it recorded lows of 13.7F (-10C).
As blizzards are predicted by NWS, the storm will persist until Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), at least 15 inches (38 1/2 cm) of snow—the most in ten years—is predicted, making travel “extremely hazardous” and drastically reducing visibility.
In addition, there will be the potential for blizzards and strong wind gusts of up to 40 mph (64 km/h).
Over the course of Sunday, the storm is expected to move eastward from the central United States and the Midwest, arriving in the Mid Atlantic region by this evening.
Before the storm starts to lessen by Tuesday morning, the NWS adds that the disruption will last until Monday.
As a reminder, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri are the five states that have so far proclaimed a state of emergency.
What is causing the severe weather?
The polar vortex, which is a region of cold air that circulates the Arctic, is causing the extreme weather, according to forecasters.
The polar vortex typically remains high around the North Pole, but it can move and enlarge, bringing lower-than-normal temperatures farther south.
Before the winter storm made landfall on Saturday night, the polar vortex had been spreading across the United States in recent days.
With a mix of snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures, it is predicted to move eastward in the upcoming days.
The coldest temperatures and most snowfall since 2011 could be brought on by this storm.
Tens of millions of Americans could be impacted by the massive winter storm, which could bring the least amount of snow and the coldest temperatures in more than ten years.
The storm began in the center of the United States and is expected to move eastward over the next few days, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
According to AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin, “The United States may experience its coldest January since 2011.”. “.”.
It may last for a week, he continued, with “temperatures that are well below historical average.”.
By Sunday evening, the storm is predicted to reach the east coast, which will also experience those low temperatures.
Many US regions have declared states of emergency.
Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri have all declared states of emergency, and areas of the United States like Mississippi and Florida that are not used to extreme cold have been alerted to the possibility of dangerous conditions.
Since the storm is predicted to move eastward across the nation, 30 states have been placed under a weather alert.
From Sunday into Monday, cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, are bracing for icy and snowy conditions.
The National Weather Service warns that extremely dangerous conditions are anticipated.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that there will be “considerable disruptions to daily life” as well as “dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures” throughout the central United States. It is currently 07:30 in the United States (12:30 GMT), and many Americans are waking up to this news.
And there is a chance of blizzards in some areas of the Midwest.
The NWS warned that “whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded.”.
Road conditions have already worsened, as we previously reported, and one state high patrol trooper is advising people to remain indoors.
Due to possible flight disruptions, American, Delta, Southwest, and United airlines are waiving change fees for customers.
The US is on high alert due to a severe winter storm.
Matt Spivey. .
editor for live pages.
With 30 states under weather alerts, the US is preparing for a severe winter storm that could bring the coldest temperatures and the most snowfall since 2011. Welcome to our live coverage.
In Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia, a state of emergency has been proclaimed.
According to state highway patrol trooper Ben Gardner, road conditions have already gotten worse, with bad weather causing collisions between cars and trucks and a fire truck rolling over in Kansas.
Risky conditions have been warned for areas of the United States, such as Florida and Mississippi, that are not used to extreme cold.
Forecasters predicted that millions more Americans would experience record low temperatures as the storm moved east.
Stay tuned as we provide you with the most recent information.