Photo: mihailomilovanovic / E+ / Getty Images
This weekend, a powerful winter storm is sweeping across the United States, bringing arctic temperatures, snow, and flooding to millions. Nearly 49 million people from the Northern Plains through the Southeast are under cold weather alerts. Cities impacted include Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Huntsville, and Myrtle Beach.
The storm system originated in Big Sky Country, where it dumped nearly a foot of snow on areas like Billings, Montana, before moving into the Plains and Midwest. Cities like Indianapolis and Cincinnati will continue to experience snowfall through Saturday evening (December 13). In Illinois, dangerous driving conditions have already been reported, leading to a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 near Springfield.
As the storm progresses, it is expected to reach the Northeast by early Sunday morning, bringing the first measurable snow of the season to the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Areas along this corridor are forecast to receive 1–3 inches of snow, with some spots in South Jersey and Eastern Long Island seeing up to 4–5 inches.
Governors and mayors across the affected regions are urging residents to exercise caution. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has warned of intense cold, while Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy have advised residents to prepare for the cold and snow. In New York City, preparations are underway with snow plows and salt spreaders ready to clear the roads.
The storm is part of an active La Niña winter, which has brought rounds of fast-moving clippers and a weakening Polar Vortex, delivering record-breaking cold to the Midwest and Northeast this weekend. The winter weather is expected to move out of the Northeast by midday Sunday, though ocean-effect snow may linger across the Cape and Islands.
