Cities in more than a dozen states are under warnings or advisories from the National Weather Service (NWS), with Winter Storm Blair set to bring heavy snow and significant ice to swathes of the country.
Why It Matters
Challenging driving conditions may affect travel as many Americans make journeys across the country following the holiday season.
Certain vulnerable populations, such as young infants and senior citizens, face increased health risks from the dangers associated with freezing temperatures.
What To Know
The NWS Weather Prediction Center forecast a winter storm expected to deliver heavy snow and dangerous ice from the Central Plains to the mid-Atlantic later this week.
In a recent update, the NWS has described the approaching system as a major winter storm, warning of severe travel disruptions.
A forecast map from the National Weather Service. Cities in more than a dozen states were at high risk from a winter storm over the weekend.
A forecast map from the National Weather Service. Cities in more than a dozen states were at high risk from a winter storm over the weekend.
National Weather Service
There was a 60 to 90 percent chance of at least 6 inches of snow in parts of the Central Plains and Mississippi Valley. Areas at highest risk include cities in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware.
The NWS also predicts significant sleet and freezing rain this weekend, spanning from eastern Kansas and the Ozarks to the Tennessee and lower Ohio Valleys.
Per the NWS, cities most at risk from “significant” icing included those in southeast Kansas, south Missouri, south Illinois, Kentucky, south Indiana, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The Weather Channel said that Baltimore, Charleston, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., are some of the major cities facing wintry travel conditions. It added that affected cities were at risk of these travel conditions prompting delays or closures.
What People Are Saying
Meteorologist Jim Cantore said on X, formerly Twitter: “Pending coast to coast winter storm (TWC named #Blair) will crank east of the Rockies starting Saturday night into Tuesday off the east coast. Still model to model differences on timing and positioning that will make all the difference in precipitation type for the i64 corridor. This will be a high impact event that starts on a post holiday travel weekend so keep that in mind as snow rates and ice accretion are all on its resume all the way to the east coast. Below a look at the two-pieced system on satellite and its trek east through next Tuesday at 500mb.”
Meteorologist Ryan Maue wrote on X: “Sunday and Monday will be a brutal mess for huge population in bunch of big cities.
“Heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain may surprise folks in how fast it’s falling and accumulating with cold temps in the 20s.
“Try to travel Fri/Sat, or wait until Tues.”
What Happens Next
The NWS winter storm forecast was for Saturday, January 4 to Monday, January 6.
Forecasts are subject to change. The NWS updates its forecasts regularly.
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Winter Storm Snow Map Shows Cities Set To Be Hit Hardest
