Severe Winter Storms and Frigid Temperatures Sweep Across the Eastern US
Millions of residents across the United States are preparing for a severe winter weather event, with dangerously low temperatures and significant snowfall expected. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for numerous regions, particularly affecting the eastern seaboard, ranging from the northern plains to Maine.
Forecasts predict heavy snowfall, especially in western New York, where areas near Lake Ontario could see accumulations of two to three feet over the next few days. Meteorologist Marc Chenard has indicated that as many as 70 million people may be under some sort of winter storm warning during this period.
The bitter cold is a result of a disruption in the polar vortex, leading temperatures to plummet to between –30°F and –55°F in parts of the Rockies and Northern Plains. Wind chills may also dip below zero, extending as far south as Oklahoma and into the Tennessee Valley.
In Washington D.C., temperatures are forecasted to drop into the 20s, prompting the relocation of Donald Trump’s inaugural ceremony indoors. Minnesota officials have advised residents to dress appropriately and travel with emergency supplies. Meanwhile, a winter mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is anticipated from Texas to northern Florida, impacting approximately 30 million individuals.
As the weather system moves through the Gulf Coast and Southeast, preparations are underway, with Louisiana's governor declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of potentially hazardous conditions.
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