Snow and Ice Wreak Havoc on US Highways as Cold Snap Continues

The eastern half of the United States is experiencing the coldest air of the season so far, with temperatures dropping below freezing in many areas.

The frigid weather has also brought snow and ice to some regions, causing dangerous road conditions and multiple crashes.

Coldest Air of the Season So Far to Grip Eastern US Prior to December

(Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images)

According to AccuWeather, a blast of arctic air has swept across the eastern US, bringing the lowest temperatures since last winter.

The cold snap is expected to last until the end of November, with some areas feeling the chill well into December.

The cold air has been accompanied by gusty winds, creating even lower wind chill values.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said that "in some cases, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the actual temperature".

The cold weather has also triggered lake-effect snow in parts of the Great Lakes region, as well as snow showers in the Appalachians and the Northeast.

Some areas have received several inches of snow, while others have seen only a dusting.

The cold air has also reached the South, where some cities have recorded their earliest freeze of the season.

For example, Atlanta, Georgia, had a low of 32 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday morning, which was the earliest freeze since Nov. 9, 1976.

Snow Blamed for Crashes as Millions in US Hit with Frigid Temperatures

The snow and ice that have accompanied the cold air have also caused problems on the roads, especially in the Midwest and the Northeast.

Several accidents have been reported, some of them fatal, as drivers lost control of their vehicles on slippery surfaces.

In Michigan, a 21-year-old woman was killed when her car slid off the road and hit a tree on Monday morning.

In Ohio, a 16-year-old girl died after her car collided with a snowplow on Monday afternoon, while in Pennsylvania, a 58-year-old man died when his pickup truck crashed into a tractor-trailer on Monday night.

In addition to the fatal crashes, there have been numerous minor collisions and spinouts, as well as road closures and delays.

In New York, a pileup involving more than 20 vehicles shut down a section of Interstate 81 on Tuesday morning, and in Massachusetts, a jackknifed tractor-trailer blocked all lanes of Interstate 495 on Tuesday afternoon

The snowy weather has also affected air travel, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed at major airports in the eastern US as more than 1,000 flights were canceled and more than 3,000 flights were delayed on Monday and Tuesday.

The winter weather is expected to ease up by the end of the week, as milder air returns to the eastern US.

However, meteorologists warned that another blast of cold air could arrive by early December, bringing another round of snow and ice to some areas.

Also Read: U.S. Weather Forecast: Coastal Storm Possible This Weekend Until Next Week

What is the forecast for next week?

The eastern US will experience cold and dry conditions for most of the week, with temperatures below freezing in some areas and little to no precipitation.

The coldest days will be Monday and Tuesday, with record lows possible in some cities.

The temperature will gradually warm up by the end of the week, reaching the 50s in some places. The sky will be mostly clear or partly cloudy, with some morning or afternoon clouds possible.

Central US will have mild and mostly sunny weather for the week, with temperatures ranging from the 40s to the 60s.

There will be little to no precipitation, except for some light rain or snow in the northern Plains on Wednesday and Thursday. The wind will be moderate to strong, especially in the southern Plains.

Western US will see mixed and changeable weather for the week, with temperatures varying from the 30s to the 70s.

There will be some precipitation, mainly in the form of rain or snow in the northern Rockies and the Pacific Northwest on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. The sky will be partly to mostly cloudy, with some sunny breaks in between.