CNN
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More than 40 million people from Texas to West Virginia are under winter weather advisories on Monday, as the system threatens to bring heavy rain, significant ice and bitter cold, with roads likely to be treacherous and rapid frostbite in some places.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said ice accumulation was expected in at least 15 states.
“Freezing precipitation totals may become significant across portions of central Texas, southwestern Oklahoma, central Arkansas and western Tennessee, where more than a quarter-inch of ice is expected to accumulate. Additionally, there are low to moderate chances of three-day ice accumulations of more than a half-inch Over parts of central Texas and Arkansas.
Winter rain will fall in several waves across the region through Wednesday, and although there may be breaks in the active weather, roads will remain soft throughout the event with temperatures remaining cool.
Bitter cold air also settled dangerously behind the Arctic front as it moved slowly across the west over the weekend, with wind chill warnings on Monday morning for more than 15 million people.
Wind temperatures will likely reach 45 degrees below zero. Cold wind chills can cause frostbite in as little as 10 minutes.
Here’s what to expect in the coming days:
- Monday: Freezing rain and sleet are likely to begin Monday morning from parts of Texas into the Ohio Valley and Tennessee, while a mass of cold air provides temperatures up to 30 degrees below average from the central High Plains to the upper Midwest. Meanwhile, snow is expected in parts of the Central Appalachian region, and rain is expected in parts of the lower Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys, as well as parts of the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
- Monday night: An ice storm warning goes into effect Monday evening for Memphis and surrounding areas in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. The advisory is expected to remain in place until Wednesday afternoon, and travel may be “nearly impossible,” the warning states.
- Tuesday and after: Freezing rain will continue through Tuesday, with parts of Texas and Oklahoma, including Austin, Dallas and Oklahoma City, under winter weather warnings through Wednesday. Fears of heavy rain and flash flooding are growing in East Texas by Tuesday, with a slight risk of heavy rain in the region from eastern Texas to northwest Louisiana on Wednesday.
In Austin, freezing rain could begin early Monday morning. Snow will be possible mainly late at night through mid-morning, when temperatures will be cooler. Dallas is also expected to see significant ice of a tenth to a quarter of an inch.
Up to an inch of snow and about two-tenths of an inch of ice are possible in Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, snow and sleet of up to an inch and ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch are possible in Springfield, Missouri, and ice accumulations of up to a tenth of an inch are possible in St. Louis.
“Snow will result in reduced visibility and snow/ice will result in hazardous driving conditions,” the weather service warned.
The most significant travel impacts are expected to impact the Texas area on Tuesday, with icy bridges and slick roads possible, according to the weather service. Fort Worth office. Drivers were asked to be careful of black ice patches and slippery roads.
“Avoid traveling if you can, but if you have to go out, watch for ice/black ice, and be sure to give yourself plenty of time and slow down while driving,” the weather service said.
In Oklahoma, deteriorating travel conditions are expected to begin Monday morning as freezing rain moves into the area, according to the Oklahoma Weather Service. Norman.
As freezing drizzle spread across central Illinois on Sunday evening, the National Weather Service announced… Lincoln He warned of the possibility of slippery roads, sidewalks and parking lots. “Be careful if you go out tonight,” meteorologists said.
Wyoming Highway Patrol/from Facebook
Wyoming Highway Patrol and emergency crews respond to a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 80 in Carbon County.
Bad weather may have been a factor in a fatal multi-vehicle accident in Carbon County, Wyoming, over the weekend.
An accident on Interstate 80 killed one person and injured several others Saturday evening as an Arctic front moved slowly through the area.
While the exact cause of the collision is unknown, the blowing snow and excessive winds resulted in reduced visibility when it occurred – even at times when no new snow was falling. Areas along I-80 saw between 1 and 5 inches of snow, while isolated areas along the interstate saw higher accumulations.
It was reported that a collision occurred between 44 vehicles on the highway.
