US winter storm to bring heavy snow, catastrophic ice, bitter cold

A powerful system fuelled by moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is colliding with an Arctic air mass, creating a multi-day weather event of rare magnitude. 

The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warns of three primary threats: heavy snow, catastrophic ice and bitter cold and wind. 

It says snowfall totals exceeding one foot are forecast from the Southern Rockies through the Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Widespread, significant travel disruptions are certain, with near-impossible driving conditions developing.

Also a broad swath from the Southern Plains through the Lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and Southeast is bracing for a devastating glaze of freezing rain. Ice accumulations of over half an inch — with localized totals exceeding an inch — are predicted for northern Louisiana, central and northern Mississippi, southern Tennessee, and the southern Appalachians. This level of ice will likely cause “catastrophic” tree damage, prolonged power outages, and structural stress.

Weather experts further contends that in the storm’s wake, dangerously cold air will sweep from the north-central U.S. into the Southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Midwest. Wind chills will plunge to life-threatening levels, exacerbating risks for stranded motorists and vulnerable populations.

In a statement on social media, US President Donald Trump announced coordination between the his administration, state and local officials, and FEMA, stating the agency is “fully prepared to respond.” The U.S. National Weather Service continues to emphasize the severity of the threat, warning of “moderate to major impacts” and urging the public to avoid all travel where possible.