A coast-to-coast storm is set to impact millions of Americans from the West Coast to the East Coast of the United States in the coming days this week, according to weather forecast. The new storm is expected to bring heavy snow, cause icy conditions, result in flooding due to heavy rain, and lead to severe weather. This comes as the country moves toward the end of its winter season until February.
The storm comes more than a month after an atmospheric river blanked California and some parts of the American West in January. While the new storm is not expected to cause catastrophic flooding like those in January, US meteorologists believe its strength is capable enough to result in widespread disruption to travel. It also transpires after a historic winter hurricane killed multiple people across the US in December.
New Storm Weather Forecast
The FOX Forecast Center predicted that cities like Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and Minneapolis, Minnesota will be in the impact zone during the workweek, particularly from Tuesday to Thursday, February 21 to February 23. The said period is expected to see the most potential for disruption affecting travel, as millions of Americans could see freezing rain, snow, and sleet.
The winter weather is anticipated to start on Monday, February 20, in the Western US, where it will eventually spread in other parts of the country and cause hazardous travel during the mentioned three-day period this week. Many communities north of Interstate 80 (I-80) is slated to be impacted by the looming storm, according to the forecast center.
Low and High Pressure Areas
In its update, the center says the winter storm will impact millions with blizzard conditions, blanketing through at least 35 states. FOX Weather meteorologist Jason Frazer stated a high pressure area will be sitting above the Southeast US, while a low pressure area will be hovering over the Southwest US.
Frazer explains these opposing systems will pull warm and moist air from the south. Meanwhile, an Arctic air will enter the region due to a jet stream diving south, which will set the precedent for a major winter storm across the northern part of the US.
Coast-to-Coast Winter Storm
CNN forecasters also predict that the major winter storm will bring heavy snow, dangerous winds, and potential blizzard conditions, as well as the coldest temperatures of the winter season.
The US media agency highlights the following weather hazards that should be expected this week:
- widespread heavy snow
- strong winds
- blizzard conditions
- sleet and freezing rain
- severe thunderstorms
- heavy rain
- record low and high temperatures
The country went through an active winter season, wherein a powerful bomb cyclone killed at least 59 people when a winter storm battered North America in late December 2022. Many of the fatalities were found frozen insider their cars after being stranded amid blizzard and whiteout conditions, according to Sky News.
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