Dangerous cold temperatures will engulf much of the country on Sunday as a severe winter storm sweeps through parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Sunday, causing the coldest conditions in many years for much of the country, National Weather Service forecasters said. cold weather.
The heaviest snowfall is expected north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor, where up to 8 inches of snow could fall, according to the weather service.
Areas from northern Maryland to Boston could see three to six inches of snow, with more in some locations. A mix of rain and snow is possible from northern Virginia to southern New Jersey.
Preliminary observations recorded up to seven inches of snowfall in parts of West Virginia as of Sunday afternoon, according to the weather service.
Flurries were also seen near Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, where some snow could be seen on the field during the football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams.
Snow began to accumulate on cars and grass in New York City on Sunday night.
Forecasters with the weather service’s New York office said heavy snow was falling in parts of the Lower Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey and warned that one to two inches of snow per hour could fall at times in some areas.
Much of the Northeast is under a winter storm warning or winter weather warning. Winter storm warnings are issued when severe winter weather is expected or has already occurred, which could make travel extremely dangerous or even impossible. Recommendations are for less severe cases.
Winter weather warnings are in effect for the New York City metropolitan area, Long Island, southern Westchester and coastal Connecticut. Snowfall amounts of three to five inches are expected, which could lead to slippery roads and accumulation of snow.
Airports across the Northeast experienced delays and cancellations Sunday afternoon and evening. Major airports around New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C., were clearing ice and snow from runways throughout the day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The D.C. Department of Transportation cleared streets Sunday and warned drivers to stay off the roads as the department prepared for an influx of visitors on Inauguration Day.
Arctic air will hit much of the south-central and southeastern United States after the storm ends early Monday, bringing days of cold weather.
National Weather Service forecasters warn that this is the coldest air of the winter so far, and in many cases the coldest in years.
High temperatures will be below freezing to single digits in the northern Plains and upper Midwest; single digits and teens in the Rockies, central Plains, and Midwest; teens and 20s in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic Years old; Texas and the Southeast between the 1920s and 1930s.
Wind chill levels will reach dangerously low levels and prolonged exposure or a lack of suitable clothing could lead to hypothermia or frostbite, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Wind chills of 30 to 55 degrees below freezing are expected at times in the Rockies, northern Plains and upper Midwest on Monday, with wind chills below freezing as far south as Oklahoma, Tennessee and the Ohio Valley.
Temperatures in the single digits at 11 a.m. Sunday in Chicago
Ann Marie Saviano, 51, who lives in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood on the city’s South Side, said she planned to have brunch with friends, go grocery shopping and attend a birthday party .
“This time of year is what we call hibernation season, where people retreat into their nests, stay warm and cozy for one to four days, and then get ready to face the world in warm 23-degree temperatures,” Saviano said said the lady.
Forecasters are warning of a severe winter storm in Gulf Coast states on Monday, with frigid air and a storm system over the Gulf expected to bring snow, freezing rain and ice to the region, potentially causing major travel disruptions.
As the storm moves east from Texas, it is expected to hit Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Carolinas.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for parts of Louisiana.
The heaviest areas of snow are likely to be between Louisiana and southeast Texas between the U.S. 190 and Interstate 10 corridors, where 4 to 6 inches of snow could accumulate.
Report contributors: Amanda Holpucci, Camille Baker, Robert Chiarito and Sarah Ruberg.
