A powerful arctic winter storm is poised to bring “significant wintry weather” this weekend to about a dozen states in the middle of the country, from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, according to the Weather Prediction Center, and forecasters. warning that some areas may experience the heaviest snowfall in a decade or more.
The storm is expected to bring a nasty mix of snow, ice and freezing rain that is expected to disrupt travel and daily life with road closures, flight delays and power outages from Saturday into Monday.
As the storm continues, the Arctic air is predicted to stabilize afterwards, as some of the coldest temperatures this season are expected to last for several days.
Some state officials were already preparing for the worst on Friday.
In Missouri, the governor placed the National Guard, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia declared a state of emergency, days before the storm’s arrival, and urged people to avoid travel on Sunday.
Cities from Cincinnati to Chicago to St. Louis began the work of repairing its roads and repairing the warming areas.
A low pressure system will move into Denver Saturday evening with up to an inch or two of snow expected to fall in the metro area overnight. The storm is forecast to strengthen quickly as it moves out of Colorado and into the Central Plains late Saturday.
“We’re on the weak side of it, and then it quickly becomes a strong storm as it moves into Kansas and Nebraska,” said Zach Hiris, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Denver.
Heavy snow gusts in excess of 35 miles per hour could bring blizzard conditions to the Central Plains by Sunday morning. Whiteout conditions could make driving “dangerous and impossible” in some areas, the Weather Service warned.
The storm will continue its march eastward, reaching the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys on Sunday, and the Mid-Atlantic region Sunday night into Monday.
At least eight inches of snow is forecast for the area between Kansas and Indiana from Saturday into Sunday, with additional snow showers likely on Monday.
The Weather Prediction Center said some of the worst conditions are likely in areas north of and along the Interstate 70 corridor, which runs through St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The area of the storm was still visible on Friday afternoon.
Rich Bann, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, said that while the snow may remain in the southern Great Lakes, “it may not take that long, and then maybe Chicago gets more than we expect right now.” “
The Prediction Center has also warned of “significant snowfall” in the Mid-South this weekend. Sleet and snow could cause damage from eastern Kansas and the Ozarks, extending east into Tennessee and the lower Ohio Valleys.
“That rain will freeze when it meets and turns into ice — that’s what sticks to trees, power lines, roads, cars, car windows, everything,” said Mr.
The southern Appalachian Mountains are also at risk of freezing Sunday and Sunday night.
From Sunday through Monday, the storm is on track to cross the Appalachians and move into the Washington, DC area, as well as western Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
“We are looking for rain that will start on Sunday, continue on Sunday night until Monday before everything is completed,” said Mr. Bann.
The storm comes at a time when the country is poised to experience what the National Weather Service is calling a “major Arctic outbreak.” Temperatures are expected to drop below average in areas east of the Rocky Mountains, as far south as the Gulf Coast and Florida, with cold weather lasting through January.
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