Snow, sleet and rain: Extreme cold temperatures are expected as winter storms barrel to the south

CNN
—

Most of the United States is being battered by extreme winter weather this week as arctic air blows south from Canada, snow tracks up the Northeast coast and a potentially crippling winter storm heads south.

Travelers face delays on Sunday and cold weather awaits across much of the country, with more than 75% of the US expected to face freezing temperatures this week.

More than 70 million people are under winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings from Tennessee to Maine on Sunday. That means snow for many Northeast cities as a low pressure system will bring a quick burst of snow to the I-95 corridor from Virginia to Maine Sunday into early Monday.

Washington, DC, is expected to see 1 to 3 inches of snow, with up to 6 inches expected in New York and Boston. Hartford, Connecticut, could see 5 to 7 inches of snow and Portland, Maine, could receive up to 8 inches. And in Philadelphia, where a snow emergency was declared Sunday evening, 4-6 inches of snow and sub-freezing temperatures could fall Sunday night.

A cold weather emergency has been activated in Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced in a Sunday publication on X. The mayor warned of “dangerously low” temperatures overnight. The freezing weather forecast prompted the announcement that President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration will be held indoors on Monday, the first indoor presidential inauguration since Ronald Reagan in 1985.

At least 1,100 flights into or out of the United States were canceled Sunday night, with another 5,017 delayed, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Over 20% of flights into or out of Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport were canceled, the website shows.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency due to the storm.

“As always, I urge all New Jerseyans to exercise caution, follow all safety protocols and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary,” Murphy said on X Saturday.

Meanwhile, the south is bracing for a rare winter storm with a still uncertain forecast. Louisiana declared a state of emergency and Texas has directed state officials to mobilize resources due to the threat of snow.

In Houston, Texas, both civilian airports will be closed all day Tuesday, Mayor John Whitmire announced at a news conference Sunday evening. Schools in the Houston Independent School District — the largest in the state and the eighth-largest in the nation — will also be closed until Wednesday, Whitmire said.

The city could see up to 5 inches of snow as of Monday night, according to the National Weather Service Houstonwhich warned of “freezing rain” and icy roads making for hazardous travel conditions until Wednesday midday. Overnight temperatures below freezing are expected to continue Sunday through Friday, says the board.

Arctic air is sweeping across much of the United States this week, and for some states, the extreme cold could last for several days. Almost 150 million people are under a cold weather alert with forecasters warning of potential frozen pipes, frostbite and travel delays.

More than two dozen record lows are possible this week, including in Cleveland, Kansas City and Houston, as temperatures will drop 20 to 30 degrees below normal.

Denver is expected to have a high of just 9 degrees Monday, a staggering 36 degrees cooler than their normal high of 45.

Southern cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis and Birmingham may not even reach a high temperature above freezing on Monday and Tuesday.

“An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause burst water pipes,” the National Weather Service in Atlanta warned.

Houston’s mayor also urged residents to protect their water pipes before the cold temperatures hit. “Let me stress the preparation of your pipes,” Whitmire said Sunday. “Put your tubes if possible.”

The mayor said he was “convinced that we are about to experience a very severe and dangerous weather episode.”

He urged residents to stay inside, check on vulnerable neighbors and family members and use one of the city’s 24-hour warming centers. Officials are doing “everything we can” to encourage homeless people to seek refuge in warming centers, he added.

Wind is also a huge factor in the cold. Wind speeds of 15 to 25 mph, along with the already very cold temperatures, will lead to chills of minus 25 to 50 below zero at times Sunday through Tuesday across the Midwest and Northern Plains. These conditions can cause frostbite on exposed skin in less than 10 minutes.

More than 30 million people from Texas to Georgia are under winter storm watches in preparation for a rare winter storm across the Gulf Coast and Southeast this week.

Impacts from the significant storm will begin in Texas on Monday, the Weather Prediction Center said, adding that major traffic and travel disruptions are likely by midweek.

A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected near and south of the Interstate 20 corridor with potentially heavy snow or sleet in some areas. Sleet and freezing rain could extend as far south as the Interstate 10 corridor.

The latest forecast shows the potential for at least 3 inches of snow in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Louisiana; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama and Houston, Texas.

Ice accumulations can also lead to power outages and fallen trees.