Millions of people across the U.S. are preparing for a catastrophic winter storm
In the midst of the South bracing for a record February heat wave, a heavy winter storm is on track to harshly impact a large portion of the country. As much as a foot of snow is expected in Minneapolis. ABC News reports Tuesday night will bring the beginning of the first of two snowfalls that will last through Wednesday morning. The second snowstorm will begin on Wednesday afternoon and last through Thursday.
Tuesday night, the West, northern Rockies, and Salt Lake City can expect heavy snow, and the major storm will dump up to a foot of snow on Salt Lake City by Wednesday morning with blizzard conditions predicted for Wyoming.
On Wednesday, the extensive snow will cover the Rockies, upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and the Northeast. Expect snow in the areas stretching from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis to Detroit to New Jersey.
On Wednesday evening, New York City might get a little bit of snow, and the area from Chicago to Boston is at risk of getting iced in, per ABC.
This is what the week will look like, per CNN.
Widespread heavy snow
Strong winds
Blizzard conditions
Sleet and freezing rain
Severe thunderstorms
Heavy rain
Record low and high temperatures
Through Tuesday, the highest elevations of the Cascade Mountains could receive up to three feet of snow, and winds in the Pacific Northwest could reach 60 mph. Waters just offshore may reach a height of 20 feet, bringing with them large, breaking waves and eroding the coastline.
On Tuesday, the storm moves farther west, into California and the Great Basin, where it is expected to bring heavy precipitation and high winds that may knock out power.
“The coldest storm of the season, and possibly of the last several years is expected to impact southwest (California) Wed-Fri or Sat with showers across coasts and valleys with mainly snow across the mountains and deserts,” the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles said via Twitter on Sunday. “Snow or graupel may even occur across some elevated valleys!”
Scattered thunderstorms are also possible on Wednesday, both during the day and at night in the southern regions. Meanwhile, a record-breaking heat wave is predicted to sweep across the country from Texas to Washington, D.C. this February.
Tuesday could see blazing hot 86 degrees in Orlando, Florida, and 85 degrees in Dallas. This Mardi Gras in New Orleans will rank among the hottest ever noted. The forecast for Tuesday calls for a high of 80 degrees, which is not far from the record-breaking 83 degree Mardi Gras in 1917.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.