More than 60 million people are under winter alerts nationwide, with a powerful weather system expected to bring a potent mix of snow, ice and blizzard conditions, accompanied by winds gusting up to 50 mph.
The winter storm, which has already caused snowy and icy conditions in the Central Plains, will create treacherous travel conditions and potential power outages across a vast region stretching from Kansas to the mid-Atlantic.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center warned.
Major effects, including “considerable disruptions to daily life … dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures,” are expected from this storm through Monday in parts of the Central and Eastern US, according to the Winter Storm Severity Index.
What to expect when
Of the 60 million people under winter alerts, nearly 4 million are under blizzard warnings across much of eastern Kansas and western Missouri, with a dangerous combination of snow, ice and freezing rain ongoing across Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana and western Kentucky. In addition, thundersnow and thundersleet are being observed.
Throughout the day, the storm will spread east into the Ohio River Valley, then reach the mid-Atlantic later Sunday into much of Monday.
Kansas City, Missouri: Blizzard warning until 12 a.m. CT Monday, peaking Sunday afternoon. Total snowfall expected between 8 and 14 inches with a glaze of ice and winds gusting to 45 mph.
St. Louis: Winter storm warning until 7 a.m. ET Monday, peaking Sunday morning through Sunday evening. Heavy mixed precipitation, icy at first turning to snow. Total snow and sleet accumulations 5 and 9 inches and very light sleet accumulations.
Indianapolis: Winter storm warning through 7 p.m. ET Monday, peaking 1 p.m. Sunday – 7 a.m. ET Monday. Heavy mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations between 6 and 9 inches along with a glaze of ice.
Louisville, Kentucky: Winter storm warning through 7 p.m. ET Monday peaking noon Sunday to 7 a.m. ET Monday, with a secondary snow burst Monday afternoon and evening. Heavy mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations between 5 and 9 inches along with ice accumulations up to three-fourths of an inch.
Cincinnati: Winter storm warning through 12 a.m. ET Tuesday peaking noon Sunday to 7 a.m. ET Monday, with a secondary snow burst Monday afternoon and evening. Heavy mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches along with ice accumulations up to .1 inch.
Charleston, West Virginia: Winter storm warning through 1 a.m. ET Tuesday peaking 1 p.m. Sunday – 1 p.m. Monday ET, with a secondary snow burst Monday afternoon and evening. Heavy mixed precipitation with total snow accumulations between 4 and 7 inches along with ice accumulations between 1/2 and 1 inch.
Washington, DC: Winter storm warning 10 p.m. Sunday through 1 a.m. ET Tuesday, peaking 1 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday. ET. Snow mixed with sleet with total snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches, with some suburban areas potentially getting up to a foot. A trace of ice accumulation.
Philadelphia: Winter weather advisory 1 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET Monday, peaking between 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET. Snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches.
Source: CNN.com