A historic winter storm is set to barrel across America this weekend, and interactive weather maps are tracking the dangerous system in real-time. The massive winter storm set to begin tomorrow will stretch 2,000 miles across the country, from the Arizona-New Mexico border to upstate New York.
A major winter storm is set to spread heavy snow and damaging ice across a large portion of the United States over the coming days, with dangerously cold temperatures that will only worsen the storm and increase its danger, with the storm's reach expected to extend across hundreds of miles, bringing multiple weather hazards to different regions as it unfolds from Friday into early next week. Heavy snow, ice and brutal cold are expected to make the storm a potentially life-threatening weather event for a huge portion of the country — 35 states, with forecasts showing about two-thirds of the U.S. could be affected by what will likely be the largest winter storm in at least five years.
The maps reveal some serious variation in what different regions will face. Heavy snow is expected over a wide band of the country, with a foot or more potentially headed for parts of the Texas Panhandle and the Ozarks, with the highest snowfall totals — possibly up to 2 feet — expected in the central Appalachians and into the Northeast. The bull's-eye for the most significant ice accretion, capable of causing widespread power outages, is currently forecast from East Texas through southern Arkansas. About 16 inches is forecast for New York City, with the last time New York got more than 8 inches being January 2022.
Beyond the jaw-dropping numbers, the storm system is expected to hit the northern Plains with subzero temperatures as soon as Thursday, then reach the Mississippi Valley, the Northeast and the Ohio Valley by Sunday, with Texas and other Southern states expected to experience dangerously low temperatures as soon as Saturday. More than 4,000 flight cancellations are likely across the country this weekend. Check the latest interactive storm maps for updates every two hours to stay informed on your area's specific forecast.