Wide Winter Storm Triggers Emergencies Across 14 States and Puts 170 Million on Alert

More than 170 million people from the Southwest to New England are under winter weather alerts as a far-reaching storm advances across the United States, bringing heavy snow, significant icing and life-threatening cold. At least 14 states have issued emergency declarations ahead of the system, which is forecast to disrupt travel, strain power grids and threaten communities with sub-zero wind chills through early next week.

States of emergency span the South and Mid-Atlantic

Governors in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia have activated emergency protocols. The declarations allow those states to mobilize National Guard units, pre-position road crews and expedite the delivery of critical supplies as the storm approaches.

Emergency officials warn that the greatest immediate hazard in the South is ice. Forecast models indicate up to 1 inch of accretion in some locations, an amount capable of rendering roads impassable for days and bringing down tree limbs and power lines. The threat zone stretches across major metropolitan areas, including Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; areas north of Atlanta; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia; and the Washington, D.C., region.

Travel disruptions already under way

Airlines had canceled more than 1,400 flights scheduled for Saturday, according to early tracking data, as carriers anticipated icy runways and poor visibility. Airports serving Dallas–Fort Worth, Atlanta and Charlotte are expected to experience the most significant operational challenges. Road travel is also likely to deteriorate quickly once precipitation begins; transportation departments in several states have started pretreating highways with salt brine to slow the formation of ice.

Brutal cold compounds the danger

While the storm delivers snow and ice, a separate surge of Arctic air is driving temperatures well below normal across much of the central United States. More than 50 million people from Minneapolis to Houston are under alerts for extreme cold. Wind-chill readings dipped near −40 °F in Minneapolis and −30 °F in Chicago early Friday, conditions that can produce frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Southern cities unaccustomed to prolonged freezes—among them Dallas, Little Rock and Memphis—are forecast to remain below freezing for an extended period even after the main storm axis moves east. Because widespread power outages are likely where ice accumulates, local officials fear many residents could be left without heat during the coldest spell of the season.

Storm timeline and geographic reach

The expansive weather system began organizing over the Southwest on Friday afternoon, depositing snow and sleet in New Mexico. Forecasters anticipate the following progression:

• Friday evening: A wintry mix develops over the Dallas–Fort Worth area, while snow spreads into Oklahoma City.
• Saturday morning: Freezing rain stretches from San Antonio to Dallas and eastward through Little Rock, Memphis and Shreveport, Louisiana, reaching Tupelo, Mississippi.
• Saturday evening: Snow and ice extend from New Mexico through the Carolinas. Raleigh and Atlanta are likely to see a mix of sleet and freezing rain.
• Early Sunday: Snow reaches from Wichita, Kansas, to Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., while freezing rain threatens Houston, Memphis, Atlanta and Raleigh.
• Midday Sunday: New York City transitions from dry conditions to snow; Washington, D.C., may change from snow to a wintry mix as temperatures rise slightly.
• Late Sunday: Snow is expected along a corridor from Louisville through Chicago to New York City, while coastal sections of the Northeast oscillate between rain and snow.
• Early Monday: Interior portions of the Northeast and much of New England remain under accumulating snow as the system departs.

Potential snow totals

Accumulations will vary widely along the storm track. Cities such as Albuquerque, New Mexico; St. Louis; and Virginia Beach, Virginia, could observe measurable snow for the first time this winter. Interior New England may collect the deepest totals, though precise amounts hinge on how quickly coastal temperatures rise above freezing.

Imagem: Internet

Power grid and infrastructure concerns

Utility companies across the South and Mid-Atlantic have placed line crews on standby, anticipating ice-induced outages. Up to 1 inch of ice loading is historically associated with extensive damage to distribution networks. Some providers have urged customers to prepare for multiday interruptions and to stock emergency kits in advance.

Transportation agencies emphasize that even modest ice accumulations can shut down interstates. Motorists are advised to avoid travel during the height of the event, especially in regions where ice rather than snow is expected to dominate.

Federal coordination and public guidance

The National Weather Service continues to issue updated watches and warnings as new data arrive. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials report ongoing coordination with state authorities to ensure generators, blankets and other resources are positioned where the need is projected to be greatest.

Meteorologists stress that the combination of slick roads, potential power failures and dangerous cold could create life-threatening conditions, particularly for vulnerable populations. Residents in the storm’s path are urged to monitor local alerts, limit travel, insulate exposed pipes and verify that alternative heat sources are safe and operational.

Next steps

The storm’s strength and broad reach make it one of the most consequential winter weather events of the season. Tracking will continue through the weekend as forecasters refine snowfall projections and ice probabilities. Authorities caution that even minor shifts in temperature profiles could significantly alter the balance between snow, sleet and freezing rain, thereby changing impact zones.

Crédito da imagem: George Walker IV/AP