Arctic air has hit much of the eastern United States this weekend, bringing some of the coldest temperatures since last winter. It’s causing a lot of snow around the Great Lakes, and experts warn that travel could be “paralyzed” in some areas because of the heavy snowfall.
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This cold air, which moved down from the northern Plains and Midwest, is expected to stick around into next week. Forecasters are predicting that temperatures could drop 15 to 25 degrees from Minnesota to Texas. Plus, with the Great Lakes still really warm, it’s triggering the season’s first big snowstorms.
The National Weather Service says some areas could face major travel disruptions, especially around the lakes. In fact, parts of the region could get as much as 6 to 12 inches of snow, and in some areas, up to 6 feet!
This weekend, places like Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Tallahassee will experience temperatures that feel more like mid-January than mid-November. Almost 70% of the country will see temperatures below freezing in the coming days.
The northern Plains and Upper Midwest are expected to be especially cold Saturday morning, with wind chills dropping below zero. This means there’s a higher risk of frostbite and hypothermia, so it’s important to stay warm.
The Great Lakes region, including parts of Michigan and New York, is also dealing with heavy lake-effect snow. Snowstorms there have caused dangerous driving conditions since Friday, and travel is likely to stay tricky through the weekend.
For skiers, there’s good news! Western New York’s ski resorts are getting their first major snowfall of the season, with Holiday Valley preparing to open next week.
In Watertown, New York, near Lake Ontario, residents could get up to 70 inches of snow by Monday! Because of the snow, parts of the area are under a state of emergency, and travel has been a real challenge. Authorities have already closed parts of major highways, like Interstate 90.
In Erie, Pennsylvania, snowdrifts have been so bad that state police have had to rescue trapped motorists. And in Buffalo, New York, the Bills are gearing up for their Sunday game against the San Francisco 49ers. Temperatures are expected to be around 26°F, but snow won’t be a problem by game time.
Buffalo fans were even asked to help shovel the snow at the stadium before the game starts, and while the snow might be heavy, the game is still set to go ahead as planned.
