A massive winter storm system, responsible for dumping several feet of snow on the central United States since Friday, is expected to bring a wintry mix through the Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Southeast and up the Eastern Seaboard through Monday.
>> PHOTOS: Winter storms wallop South, East Coast, leave thousands without power
At least 74 million people in 33 states across the country’s central and eastern thirds were under winter weather alerts by Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
A strong winter storm is expected to bring snow and freezing rain across parts of the South and into the Northeast beginning Saturday, potentially creating hazardous travel conditions and deepening supply-chain problems in the regions. https://t.co/KKO4wz1gBs
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 15, 2022
Forecasts currently call for snow and ice as far south as Georgia.
The Winter Storm Warning has been expanded a bit farther south and now includes Gwinnett, Forsyth, Barrow, Jackson and Madison counties. We'll be tracking the winter storm live on Channel 2. pic.twitter.com/5CU654uSjB
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) January 15, 2022
According to the National Weather Service, the highest snowfall totals should fall “along the spine of the Appalachians as well as across the lower Great Lakes as the storm center is forecast to track up the Piedmont sections of the East Coast. The most significant icing is expected over the Piedmont section of the Carolinas on Sunday. Farther north from the Mid-Atlantic up through New England, precipitation is forecast to begin as snow before changing over to ice/sleet and eventually rain with the approach of the storm center.”
A major winter storm will begin tonight, creating significant winter weather impacts to the eastern third of the country. More than 1/4" of ice is likely in the Piedmont of the Carolinas, with more than 1 foot of snow possible from the Appalachians into Upstate New York. pic.twitter.com/UyhfL82xN8
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 15, 2022
Meanwhile, forecasters are focusing particular attention on portions of Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas, where the system could spawn a crippling ice event as early as Sunday, CNN reported.
Models are really amping up #FreezingRain amounts @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/rfKAp20v6M
— John Ahrens (@JohnAhrensWSOC9) January 16, 2022
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told CBS News that his city is ready for the expected onslaught of ice and snow, even though the city hasn’t seen significant snowfall in four years.
“This is about public safety, the public interest, and making sure that the business of the city can continue as necessary,” Dickens told the network.
Meanwhile, outgoing Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency and urged caution among residents, many of whom are still reeling from the blizzard that left motorists stranded overnight on Interstate 95 earlier this month, CBS News reported.
According to CNN, the storm is forecast to swing to the Southeast late Saturday into Sunday, bringing torrential rains, as well as freezing rain and snow before moving northeast Sunday into Monday.
Widespread power outages loomed late Saturday into Sunday, with Duke Energy, alone, estimating that as many as 750,000 residents across the Carolinas could be plunged into darkness in the coming days.
Duke Energy estimates as many as 750k in NC & SC could lose power in the coming days. Report any outages you experience:
— Town of Cary (@TownofCary) January 16, 2022
📞Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356
📞Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-769-3766
💻at https://t.co/FR3D29ETJh
📱Text OUT to 57801
👍For more, follow @DukeEnergy
Meanwhile, parts of Tennessee could get as much as six inches of snow, forecasters said, and northern Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley region of Alabama could receive light snow accumulations, CBS News reported.
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