At a Glance
- An unprecedented 2,000-mile winter storm will hit the eastern U.S. from Friday through Sunday.
- The storm is powered by an Arctic blast that could bring -50°F wind chills and record-breaking ice.
- Power outages, travel chaos, and life-threatening cold are expected across the region.
Why it matters: Millions of residents could face dangerous conditions and widespread service disruptions.
The eastern two-thirds of the country is bracing for its most extreme winter storm of the season. Meteorologists warn that damage from this system could rival that of a major hurricane, and the forecast is already prompting widespread winter weather advisories.
What the Storm Is
The system will sweep a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) swath of the eastern U.S., from the Central-Southern Plains to the East Coast. The storm is set to arrive Friday and linger through the weekend, bringing heavy snow, damaging ice, and dangerously low temperatures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has already issued winter weather advisories across most of the country. The forecast calls for the Arctic blast to expand into the North-Central Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes today, then spill into the Southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Midwest tonight.
How Arctic Warming Fuels the Storm
Arctic amplification-rapid warming in the polar region-has turned the normally tight circulation of cold air and low pressure over the North Pole into a distorted, “stretched” polar vortex. This distortion lets frigid air spill southward into the mid-latitudes.
In an email to News Of Austin, climatologist Judah Cohen of MIT explained:
“In our research, we have demonstrated that polar vortex stretching events have accelerated in the era of accelerated Arctic change. Climate change in general, but Arctic change in particular, is favorable for forcing these events.”
Cohen added that the Arctic blast currently impacting the U.S. is a perfect example of these dynamics. Global climate models show that increased snow cover in Eurasia and reduced sea ice in the Barents-Kara Seas drive the atmosphere to produce more polar vortex stretching events. These disruptions often send colder temperatures across Asia and North America one to two months later.
Sea ice has been at a record low in the Barents-Kara Seas this fall and winter, and snowfall has been heavy in Siberia-conditions Cohen believes helped trigger the present polar vortex stretching event.
Forecast Details
The NWS forecast indicates gusty winds that will send wind chills as low as -50°F (-45°C) across the Northern Plains. On Friday, the Arctic blast will converge with an atmospheric river-a narrow band of concentrated moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The moist air will rise, cool, and condense into wintry precipitation, producing a severe winter storm that will track from the Southern High Plains and Rocky Mountains into the Northeast over the weekend.
Meteorologists expect:
- Heavy snow and ice accumulations that could cause widespread power outages.
- Significant travel disruptions across the East.
- Extremely cold temperatures tracking behind the storm, creating dangerous conditions for people unable to heat their homes or caught in traffic.
Potential Impacts
The storm’s combination of snow, ice, and wind chills poses several risks:
- Power outages: Ice buildup on power lines can cause widespread outages.
- Travel chaos: Roads will be slick, and visibility will be low, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
- Health hazards: Those unable to heat their homes or those exposed to the cold may suffer hypothermia.
Researchers like Cohen are still unraveling the complex relationship between global climate change, polar vortex behavior, and extreme mid-latitude weather. However, this approaching storm clearly illustrates how Arctic warming can influence weather patterns thousands of miles away.
Bottom Line
The upcoming winter storm, powered by a rapidly warming Arctic, is poised to deliver record-breaking cold and heavy snow across the eastern U.S. Residents should prepare for power outages, travel disruptions, and dangerous cold temperatures. The event underscores the tangible effects of Arctic amplification on everyday life.
