Cold and snow are making their way to the eastern states – see forecast
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Cold and snow are making their way to the eastern states – see forecast

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Topline

The first winter storm of the new year will form this weekend, bringing heavy snow, ice and potentially record-breaking low temperatures across the Midwest, South and East, according to the National Weather Service.

Important facts

The storm, which the NWS said will cause “outbreaks in the Arctic,” is expected to first hit the Central Plains on Saturday and blanket the Ohio and Tennessee valleys by Sunday and the Mid-Atlantic early next week.

Between 6 and 12 inches of snow is expected to fall downwind of the Great Lakes, according to the NWS. Similar snowfall accumulations are also forecast for the central Appalachians and snow showers over the northern/central Rockies.

Significant sleet and freezing rain could potentially impact the Ozarks and spread to the Tennessee and Lower Ohio valleys and the southern Appalachians, the NWS said in a post Thursday.

“Cold Arctic air” is expected to blow through the central and eastern U.S. over the weekend as high pressure builds over the Great Plains.

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Which states will be hardest hit by the winter storm?

While frigid temperatures are expected to grip the eastern half of the U.S. through next week, the NWS predicts a high chance of at least moderate snow impacts in northern Missouri, central Illinois, central Indiana, northeastern Virginia and central Maryland. The NWS also predicts the greatest potential for significant icing in central Kansas, southern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, most of Kentucky, southern West Virginia and western Virginia.

Surprising fact

Cold temperatures associated with the storm could make for the coldest January in the U.S. since 2011, according to AccuWeather expert Paul Pastelok, who noted that the Arctic storm’s onset “will take many days, not just a quick one to one.” will be a three-day event”. ”

Important background

NOAA’s winter outlook issued in October predicted good to probable chances for above-average seasonal temperatures this winter across the southwest, south and eastern U.S. Additionally, wet-than-average conditions were forecast for the northern half of the continental U.S. and drier-than-average conditions were forecast from much of the Southwest to the Southeast, the Gulf Coast and the lower mid-Atlantic regions. The forecasts follow the warmest fall the U.S. has experienced in NOAA’s 130-year climate record, with the average fall temperature reaching 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 4.1 degrees above average.

Further reading

US Winter Outlook: Warmer and drier south, wetter north (NOAA)

Fall 2024 was the warmest on record nationwide (NOAA)

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