An enormous winter storm is set to impact at least 35 states from coast-to-coast starting Tuesday and lasting through Thursday.
Though the major impacts of the storm will hit across the Upper Midwest region, with “extreme impacts” possible from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, the storm will stretch from Washington and California all the way through to New York and New England, the National Weather Service shared Monday. The prolonged winter storm is expected to start on the west coast, engulfing the entire seaboard from Washington State through Oregon, all the way down to San Diego in California.
“Confidence is high that this winter still will be extreme disruptive to travel, infrastructure, livestock and recreation in affected areas,” NWS wrote in a follow-up graphic of the report. “Power outages and tree damage are possible.”
A major winter storm will produce an extensive area of heavy snow from the West Coast & Midwest to the Northeast this week. Other weather hazards include high winds & an icy wintry mix from the Great Lakes to the Northeast. Numerous travel & infrastructure impacts are expected. pic.twitter.com/2HfJP4zvOw
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 20, 2023
Temperatures are anticipated to drop significantly, with freezing rain, blizzard conditions, and wind gusts up to 50 mph striking across the country, NWS said. (RELATED: Huge Discovery Allows Scientists To Predict Potential Cataclysms More Accurately)
A flash freeze could also strike areas around the northern Rockies. This type of winter weather phenomenon occurs when even slightly wet roads turn icy. NWS recommends drivers slow down, don’t use cruise control, and leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles on the road.