A massive winter storm pushing across Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic today will drop plenty of snow to kick off the work week.
A ribbon of moderate to heavy snow will continue to spread east today, cresting the Appalachian Spine into the Mid-Atlantic. Just south of the main heavy snow band will be a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and freezing rain.
Widespread Winter Storm Warnings can be found from southern Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio to as far east as southern New Jersey into the Delmarva Peninsula and Virginia Atlantic beaches through early Tuesday morning. Winter Weather Advisories flank the northern and southern fringes of the warnings, which include parts of Pennsylvania, southern Virginia and far northwestern North Carolina.
Interstates 64, 70, and the heavily-populated 95 corridor in the Mid-Atlantic will have very dangerous, if not impossible, travel at times between today and early on Tuesday morning. Expect either snow or ice-covered roads in these areas. If you cannot avoid travel, it will be best to allow plenty of distance and time to reach your travel destination safely.
When it is all said and done, the likely range of snow is forecast to reach 6 to 12 inches from Indiana and Kentucky into the Delmarva Peninsula by Tuesday morning. Localized 12 to 18-inch amounts will not be out of the question across the higher terrain near the Blue Ridge and central Appalachian Spine. South of this impressive snow band will be some light new ice amounts. However, ice from earlier today and any snow could still be enough to down tree limbs and knock out power.
This winter-weather maker will also deliver gusty winds. Wind Advisories can be found scattered across the Southeast into Mid-Atlantic, where wind gusts up to 45 to 55 mph will be possible. In fact, on the heels of this system, colder air shifting out of Canada will produce very chilly temperatures across the Midwest and even as far south as New Mexico and Florida. Cold Weather Advisories can be found spreading across the southern Plains into the Deep South and Southeast. The coldest wind chills as low as 15 degrees below zero will be possible across New Mexico, with wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero found in Nebraska.
It’s never too early to prepare for inclement weather. Simply having an emergency kit equipped with a weather radio, extra batteries, non-perishable food, water, clean clothes and blankets will go a long way in keeping your family safe, warm and protected.