Bone-chilling Arctic air has gripped the eastern United States, plunging temperatures and triggering significant lake-effect snow across the Great Lakes region. This frigid air mass, sweeping south from the northern Plains and Midwest, is expected to persist into next week, delivering the coldest weather seen since last winter, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures from Minnesota to Texas are forecasted to plummet by 15 to 25 degrees below average. As this cold air moves over the unusually warm Great Lakes, it is fueling the season’s first major lake-effect snowstorm. Winter weather alerts have been issued for nearly 10 million people, with snowfall in some areas expected to reach between 6 and 12 inches, while narrow bands of snow could pile up to an astonishing 4 to 6 feet.
Cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Nashville, and Tallahassee are bracing for high temperatures more typical of mid-January. Over the coming days, nearly 70% of the U.S. population is expected to experience freezing temperatures.
The northern Plains and Upper Midwest will face the harshest conditions, with wind chills plunging well below zero. The Weather Prediction Center warns of wind chills as low as -15°F across much of the Dakotas and Minnesota, and even colder in parts of North Dakota, where it could drop to a bone-numbing -30°F to -40°F, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
In the Great Lakes region, lake-effect snow is creating near-whiteout conditions, snarling traffic and disrupting travel. Residents near Lake Ontario in western New York, particularly in Watertown, could see up to 70 inches—nearly six feet—of snow by Monday. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for several counties, warning of dangerous conditions.
Skiers, however, are eagerly anticipating the season's first big snowfall. Western New York’s Holiday Valley Ski Resort is preparing to open next Thursday following the heavy snow. Meanwhile, northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania are also bracing for prolonged, heavy snowfall that could render travel nearly impossible in the hardest-hit areas.
The severe conditions have already led to the closure of several major highways in New York and Pennsylvania, including portions of Interstate 90. Erie County officials anticipate 20 to 30 inches of snow to accumulate at the Buffalo Bills’ open-air stadium by game time on Sunday. While fans have been asked to help clear snow from the stadium, local authorities confirmed that the game will proceed as planned.
As the eastern U.S. shivers under this Arctic blast, residents are urged to stay prepared for hazardous conditions in the days ahead.
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