A major winter storm is set to hammer a massive stretch of the U.S. this weekend, bringing heavy snow, ice, and dangerously cold air to more than 170 million people.
Forecasters say the system will fire up across Texas and Oklahoma on Friday, push northeast from New Mexico to Virginia on Saturday, and then surge into the Northeast by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). In some areas, snowfall totals could top 17 inches.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a state of emergency Friday as parts of the state brace for at least a foot of snow over the weekend.
“This is expected to be an unusually large and severe winter storm,” the NWS said, warning that “dangerously cold air remains in the forecast for more than half of the U.S. population through the weekend and into early next week.”
What to Know
- The storm has sparked official NWS warnings across at least two dozen states heading into the weekend.
- Heavy ice and extreme cold are expected from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes and the Appalachians.
- Experts warn travel may become difficult to impossible in many areas through Sunday, potentially disrupting Monday’s commute.
- Major airlines—including Delta, American, and Southwest—have issued wide travel waivers and have started canceling select flights ahead of the storm.
