A powerful winter storm is bringing the first widespread snowfall of the season to the Northeast, while a hazardous mix of freezing rain and flash flooding threatens other regions of the US.The storm, fueled by a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system, is impacting travel and infrastructure across a large swath of the country.
The storm’s effects are varied. Just south of heavy snowfall, warmer air over cold ground is creating the potential for freezing rain in the central and southern Appalachians.Even a thin layer of ice in higher elevations of Virginia and North Carolina could disrupt traffic and cause power outages. Further south, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected, with localized flash flooding possible from the northern Gulf Coast to central and northern Georgia.
Much of the central and northern US is experiencing frigid temperatures, ranging from -7 to -1 °C on Monday, contributing to accumulating snow and ice. As the initial snow and ice dissipate, a new surge of arctic air will sweep across the central and eastern US later this week, driving temperatures to thier lowest levels of the season. Some areas in the Plains, Midwest, and interior Northeast could approach daily cold records this Thursday and Friday.
This latest blast of arctic air might potentially be a precursor to a colder December, potentially linked to an alteration of the polar vortex. December marks the start of meteorological winter, extending into February, and current conditions suggest a prolonged period of cold weather is ahead.
