In brief
As a potentially catastrophic ice storm approaches, forecasters warn that 100 million Americans are under winter weather alerts, anticipating significant ice accumulation and heavy snowfall. Tree and power line damage could lead to widespread outages, particularly in southern states, while northern regions brace for difficult travel conditions. Preparations are underway with equipment deployed to mitigate ice impact on roadways and essential services.
ATLANTA (AP) — Millions of Americans from New Mexico to the Carolinas are bracing for a potentially catastrophic ice storm that could crush trees and power lines and knock out power for days, while many northern states all the way to New England are expected to receive enough snow to make travel nearly impossible, forecasters warn.An estimated 100 million people are under some type of winter weather watch, warning, or advisory ahead of the storm, according to the National Weather Service on Wednesday.The storm is expected to begin Friday and last through the weekend, bringing heavy snow and various forms of wintry precipitation, including freezing rain and sleet. An atmospheric river of moisture may be present, pulling precipitation across Texas, extending to Georgia and the Carolinas.The approaching ice storm could wield half an inch of ice or more in some areas, particularly in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee. This accumulation has the potential to lead to widespread power outages. "additionalInfo": { "citiesImpact": [ { "name": "Jackson, Mississippi", "details": "0 snowplows available, relying on other machinery for road clearance." }, { "name": "Nashville, Tennessee", "details": "45 snowplows ready for use." }, { "name": "Oklahoma City, Oklahoma", "details": "Up to 12 inches of snow expected." } ], "weatherStats": { "statesAffected": 19, "potentialWindChill": "Negative 45.6 °C in Northern Plains", "snowplowsInChicago": 330, "saltSupplyInArkansas": "78,000 cubic yards of salt available" } }
