Two-thirds of the US population is facing down a monster winter storm and extreme cold
Published by RawNews1st
As millions of Americans hunker down for a massive winter storm sweeping the country, new maps are offering updated forecasts of snow and ice accumulations.
More than 200 million people are under winter storm threats. The storm is predicted to travel over 2,300 miles across 35 states. Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., have declared states of emergency, and nine states have activated their National Guards.
“A significant, long-duration winter storm will bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to New England through Monday,” the National Weather Service says. “Widespread travel disruptions, prolonged power outages, and vast tree damage is likely.”
Forecasters also warned of frigid temperatures, gusty winds and dangerous wind chills.
Areas at the center of the storm, including parts of Kentucky and Virginia, could see as much as two feet of snow between Saturday and Monday. Major cities including New York City, Boston and Oklahoma City could see between 12 and 18 inches of snow. The outer bands of the storm could bring between 1 and 6 inches to large swaths of the country.
The southern part of the country will see accumulations of both ice and snow. Ice accumulations can be more dangerous than snow, officials warned. The weight of ice on power lines is more likely to cause outages. It is also harder to clear than snow and can make for dangerous driving conditions.
Ice accumulations of up to 1 inch are forecast for spots of the South. Parts of Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee might see up to .75 of an inch of ice. Areas along the outer bands of the storm are expected to see up to a half inch.
Residents from Texas to the Southeast are clearing store shelves of basic necessities, making items like eggs, bread and water increasingly difficult to find.
In Georgia, grocery stores were packed as families, college students and grandparents rushed to prepare ahead of the ice storm, CNN affiliate WMAZ reported. Shoppers in some areas waited in lines that appeared to stretch about half a mile, according to the outlet.
“I realized we didn’t have any bottled water,” Tripp Childs, who made multiple shopping trips, told WMAZ. Other shoppers described crowded aisles and empty shelves as they tried to gather supplies to ride out the storm.
Delaware Gov. Matthew Meyer declared a state of emergency Friday, joining more than a dozen other states taking similar steps ahead of the major winter storm.
The declaration, which takes effect shortly after midnight Sunday, allows the state to mobilize emergency resources and activate the Delaware National Guard as forecasters warn of heavy snow, high winds and dangerous travel conditions statewide.
