The National Weather Service has issued a nationwide warning as a Major winter storm is expected to bring what the agency is calling a ‘once in a generation’ event bringing record-breaking temperature drops and harsh icy conditions across the United States.
The storm is blasting much of the central and eastern US and touching nearly every state, resulting in more than 1,200 flight cancellations, highway closures and several state emergency declarations. More than 100 million people across the country are currently under winter weather and wind chill alerts.
Even Florida won’t be spared with residents of the Sunshine State seeing sudden temperature drops Friday. Major cities in the South – including Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi – are expected to see snow Thursday, according to NWS.
In Texas, State officials warned residents to prepare their homes and vehicles for the coming freeze while trying to reassure on-edge Texans that the electric grid will stay online.
Authorities urged residents to check their car tires and batteries to be sure no one gets stranded on the road, to burn wood or gas inside only if there’s proper ventilation, and to insulate pipes.
The storm is expected to become a “bomb cyclone” Thursday evening into Friday, reaching the pressure equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane as it moves into the Great Lakes.
Thursday is expected to be the most difficult day for travel as the storm pummels the Midwest with heavy snow and strong winds. Stay safe.
