A significant portion of the American population is being advised to brace themselves for potentially ‘catastrophic’ weather conditions due to a massive winter storm set to impact the northern and central regions of the country.
Weather forecasters have issued warnings to 230 million people across 34 states about the incoming Winter Storm Fern. This system is expected to bring extreme cold, powerful winds, and widespread snow and ice across an area stretching from New Mexico to Virginia on Saturday (January 24).
The National Weather Service has indicated that as the storm advances into the northeast on Sunday, it will continue to produce freezing temperatures and hazardous driving conditions.
Current forecasts suggest that twelve cities will face the most severe impacts from Fern, with travel disruptions likely to persist, as large swathes of the nation are expected to be covered in snow and ice through to Monday.
Projections indicate that over a foot of snow may accumulate in the storm’s path. Additionally, the Weather Channel is predicting up to a quarter inch of ice from Texas to Virginia, with 11 states signaling potential extensive damage to trees and power lines due to rapid ice formation.
As a result, meteorologists are warning that the effects of Winter Storm Fern may persist long after the storm has passed.
Residents of Mississippi are being cautioned about significant disruptions, with Joey Perkins, the Hinds County emergency operations director, advising them to ‘prepare now for the possibility of extended power outages.’ In response, Governor Tate Reeves has declared a state of emergency as residents ready themselves for the storm.
Early reports of snow flurries have emerged from New Mexico and the Central Plains, where the temperature is dropping swiftly as the severe weather system gains strength.
Meanwhile, experts are particularly focused on twelve major metropolitan areas in Storm Fern’s path, where icy conditions and substantial snowfall could cause extensive traffic congestion and challenges for inhabitants.
The most severe impacts of Storm Fern are anticipated from Saturday night into Sunday, as the vast icy weather system settles across many of the 34 states expected to be affected. This will likely be the scenario for many over the weekend, with the northeast expected to receive significant snowfall a day later.
An analysis by the Washington Post indicates that certain cities in Fern’s path will experience particularly severe conditions, with expert forecasters projecting ‘crippling amounts’ of snow, sleet, and ice in specific locations.