Ice storm: crippling storm will stretch 1,600 miles across the United States

Ice storm warnings are in effect for places like Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Lexington, Kentucky, where up to half an inch of ice or more is expected. Half-inch ice buildups can weigh up to 500 pounds on power lines and trees. Some areas have not experienced such bad ice conditions in years.

“This could be one of the worst winter weeks in eastern Kentucky in over a decade,” says the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Kentucky.

The NWS also suggests that if you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case you get stranded on the roads. Residents of these warned areas should also ensure that they have enough food and warm blankets in the event of a power failure for several days.

While this particular setup is perfect for ice formation, it remains somewhat uncertain as to exactly where most of the build-up will occur.

“Any slight variation in temperature profiles will cause changes in the type of precipitation which will then lead to changes in ice accumulations,” explains the NWS in Louisville. It could be the difference between one city receiving crippling amounts of ice and the next city receiving all the rain or snow.

“This weather pattern is really an ice storm situation,” says CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.

“You have warm, springtime temperatures in the ’60s and even’ 70s in the southeast, as frigid arctic air pushes all the way through the central United States to meet warm air near the Mississippi River and the Ohio River. Where these two air masses meet, warm air rises and cooler air stays near the surface, resulting in precipitation that falls as rain, but freezes on the surface. “

Snow for the Mid Atlantic

Another snowfall is also forecast for the mid-Atlantic through Thursday and then again on Friday. Places like Washington, DC, and Philadelphia will likely see around 2-3 inches of snow, with higher amounts just outside of town.

Much higher amounts will occur in the interior sections of Virginia and West Virginia. Portions of West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania could see 4 to 6 inches, especially at higher elevations.

Baby it’s cold outside

Ice could remain throughout the weekend, with another blast of arctic air plunging south of Canada. Sixty million people will experience sub-zero temperatures next week, with 75% of the population being below freezing.

It might be the perfect time to snuggle up on Valentine’s Day, but severe cold like this will be dangerous, especially those without electricity. “This means the possibility of power outages with extremely cold temperatures for several days,” says the NWS in Memphis.

More than 6 million are subject to wind chill alerts from Montana to Michigan and southern Nebraska. Temperatures will drop as cold air spreads over much of the country, with dozens of record lows possible across the plains and the south.

Below zero temperatures will reach as far south as the Texas Channel by the end of the weekend early next week with temperatures up to 50 degrees below average.