Snow and ice will affect dozens of states from Texas to the Northeast this week, forecasters warned.
Massive 100-vehicle crash closes Interstate 196 in Ottawa County, Michigan
Up to 12 people were injured in a 100-vehicle crash on Interstate 196 in Ottawa County, Michigan due to snow and icy roads.
Millions of Americans were receiving advisories and warnings about frigid weather and dangerous snow conditions on January 21, as forecasters warned that heavy snow and ice storms were expected across large swathes of the country later this week.
AccuWeather meteorologists say the storm will bring a mass of cold air that will cause temperatures to plummet and bring heavy snow and ice conditions to more than 20 states from Texas to the Northeast. Although its exact path is uncertain, it is expected to bring several inches of snow to the Plains region and ice to Texas and the Carolinas, the newspaper reported.
On January 21, more than 110 million Americans were under extreme winter weather watches, warnings, and advisories, including blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings, high wind warnings, and extreme cold warnings. 57 million people are under winter storm watches in states including Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee. Millions more people in the Great Lakes region are under winter weather warnings or extreme cold watches, according to the National Weather Service.
AccuWeather predicted the storm could disrupt thousands of flights, close major roads and close schools.
“This is shaping up to be the most impactful storm of the winter so far,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. “The risk of ice, snow and extreme cold is a dangerous combination.”
Ahead of the winter storm, two low-pressure systems are expected to pass through the Great Lakes region over the next few days, producing lake-effect snow that could reach totals of 2 feet in some areas by the end of the week, the National Weather Service said.
Arctic explosion causes temperatures to plummet
Two-thirds of the eastern United States will be hit by an arctic blast, with temperatures in the single digits and below freezing in some areas, the National Weather Service said.
An arctic cold front will expand from the northern Plains region into the mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and into the Northeast over the weekend on January 22nd. Strong winds will make already frigid temperatures even more dangerous.
The northern plains will be the coldest in the country this week, with wind chills and temperatures likely to reach -50 degrees Celsius. According to AccuWeather, temperatures in Chicago could struggle to get above freezing.
Windchill, also known as apparent temperature, is a “feel” measurement designed to help people understand the dangers of exposure to cold temperatures. Combines actual temperature and wind speed.
For those living in the upper Midwest, this weekend may bring back memories of the arctic explosions of January 29 and 30, 2019.
USA TODAY reported that at least 18 people died as a result of the cold weather. The region’s snow, wind and cold brought wind chills down to -50 degrees across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and northern Illinois, according to a summary by Purdue University’s Midwest Regional Climate Center. This was one of a series of severe weather events around the world in January 2019.
“These wind chills will cause life-threatening risks such as hypothermia and frostbite on exposed skin,” the Weather Prediction Center said of this week’s weather.
Low temperatures could reach as far south as the Gulf Coast early next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow and ice will spread from south to northeast
A “cold air mass” spreading frigid temperatures across much of the country will begin Jan. 23 and continue through the weekend, producing a major winter storm that will stretch from Texas through the Carolinas and into the Northeast, forecasters said.
The storm is expected to begin on January 23 with a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the southern Rocky Mountains and Plains region to the south central region and spread toward the East Coast over the weekend. The northern half of the storm, which includes parts of Texas and the Carolinas, is expected to see heavy snow, while the southern half is expected to bring freezing rain to much of the Deep South.
The exact path and timing of the storm is still unknown, so snowfall amounts may vary, but forecasters said the cold temperatures won’t allow the snow to melt quickly. According to AccuWeather, the central Plains region could see 6 to 12 inches of snow, and parts of the Appalachians could see up to 2 feet of snow.
The National Weather Service in Nashville said up to a foot of snow could fall north of Interstate 40 and up to a half-inch of ice could fall south of the interstate.
See the total amount of snowfall nationwide
Check out USA TODAY’s snowfall tracker to stay up to date on snowfall amounts.
Follow these tips to stay safe in the cold
The chances of frostbite and hypothermia will skyrocket by the end of the week.
How cold is the coldest wind ever recorded in the United States?
The coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States is believed to be -108 degrees, recorded at the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire on February 3, 2023.
This is the lowest wind chill recorded in the United States since meteorologists began calculating wind chill, said Alaska-based climate scientist Brian Brettschneider. But reconstructions of the historical record show that wind chill may have been this low at Mount Washington on January 22, 1885, when the record low temperature was set at minus 50 degrees.
What is the lowest temperature on record in America?
Unsurprisingly, the lowest record in the 50 states was recorded in Alaska, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The -80 degree record was set on January 23, 1971. But other states also saw some incredibly cold record low temperatures.
These three states are experiencing record low temperatures.
◾Minus 70 degrees, Rogers Pass, Montana, January 20, 1954
◾Minus 66, Riverside Ranger Station, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, February 9, 1933.
◾Minus 61, Mabel, Colorado, February 1, 1985
Three states are tied for fourth coldest record of minus 60 degrees.
◾Island Park Dam, Idaho, January 18, 1943
◾Tower, Minnesota, February 2, 1996
◾February 15, 1936, Parshall, North Dakota
Here is a summary of the top 10 coldest records across the country.
◾Minus 58, McIntosh, South Dakota, February 17, 1936
◾Minus 55 degrees, Coudeley, Wisconsin, February 2 and February 4, 1996
◾Minus 54, February 10, 1933, Seneca, Oregon, and February 9, 1933, Ukiah, Oregon.
Of the 50 states, only Hawaii has never recorded sub-zero temperatures. The all-time low is 12, and the all-time low for Puerto Rico is 40.
