A storm will bring dangerous ice and snow to the east coast
The First Weekend of the NEWSM Season: Weather, Emergency Warnings, and Flood Warnings for the Mid-South and Mid-South
The first weekend of the season will be the lowest of the two, according to the National Weather Service. Sixty million people will be affected by the winter storm beginning Saturday afternoon and lasting into Monday.
Heavy snow, ice, rain and severe thunderstorms will be unleashed from the Plains to the East Coast. The upcoming storm will affect areas less susceptible to winter weather than the northern states.
The Southeast is expected to get the heavy rain, and it may cause flooding. There is also an enhanced risk of thunderstorms in parts of the lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday.
There are emergencies and warnings in several states. On Saturday, Gov. Wes Moore issued a “state of preparedness”.
“I’m encouraging all Virginians, visitors, and travelers to stay alert, monitor the weather forecast, and prepare now for any potential impacts,” Youngkin said in a statement.
In areas along the Interstate 70 Corridor, some of the most extreme conditions will likely be found, according to the NWS.
There is also “significant icing potential” in the mid-South this weekend, according to forecasters. It’s when the rain freezing on the ground. It can affect any surface outside, in the form of cars and windows.
A thin layer of ice can cause dangerous road conditions for vehicles and pedestrians. Road networks can become unroadable because of thick layers of ice. The ice storm left thousands without power, and first responders struggled to get to those who needed help.
In the center Mississippi/Ohio Valley region, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri will get a quarter to a half inch of freezing rain on Sunday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol Assists in Responding to a Winter Storm and the Central Emergency Management Agency: “Time to get out of your home and look for new opportunities”
Across Kansas there have been “at least 212 calls of service where troopers were responding somewhere to help someone” between 6:00 a.m. Saturday and midnight Sunday morning, according to Trooper Ben Gardner, public information officer for the Kansas Highway Patrol, who goes by Trooper Ben. There has also been “at least one fatality crash” the Kansas Highway Patrol has responded to, Ben tells NPR.
He says the KDOT is out here trying to get the roads cleared, salting and blading, and they will continue doing so when the storm moves through the state.
Those that are going to be impacted by the storm should take precautions. If you’re in a winter storm, listen to your local officials; and stay off the roads, according to the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
” Once it arrives, it’s best just to stay in your home, stay safe, watch the local weather and news, and be aware of when it’s best to get out of your home and make those travels again,” he says. “Because it’s not the time to travel. It’s time to stay home.”
The US State Department has advised the public to avoid travel in affected areas as a winter storm is expected to hit parts of the country. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter weather warnings and advises people to stay indoors and not travel if they are in the storm’s path. The storm is expected to begin on Saturday and continue till Monday.