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Winter Woes in the Mid-Atlantic
The central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic states are bracing for another day of relentless snow, sleet, and freezing rain. According to the National Weather Service, parts of Virginia and West Virginia could see up to nearly 14 inches of snow, while ice accumulations in Stanleytown, Virginia, could reach more than a third of an inch. Glendale Springs, North Carolina, is expected to see a quarter-inch of ice. The snowstorm that hit the region on Tuesday has already caused numerous accidents on icy roads, leading to school closures and power outages. By Tuesday night, nearly 12,000 people in Virginia had lost power, and the Virginia Department of Transportation advised residents to stay off the roads, using a meme of Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" to emphasize the message: “There’s no place like home.”
Heavy Snowfall and State of Emergency in Virginia
The snowfall intensity in parts of Baltimore and Washington was so high that an inch of snow was falling every hour. As a result, all Washington public schools were closed on Wednesday. Appalachian Power, which serves 1 million customers in West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee, had 5,400 workers dedicated to restoring power. About 65 Virginia National Guard soldiers were deployed to support storm response efforts, and another 20 soldiers and members of the Virginia Defense Force were also assisting. Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, and state police reported 700 accidents and dozens of injuries on Tuesday, although not all were definitively linked to the weather. In southern West Virginia, multiple crashes temporarily shut down several major highways, and Smith’s Towing and Truck Repair responded to at least 15 calls from stranded tractor-trailer drivers on Interstate 64.
Ice and Indecision in Lexington, Virginia
Paige Williams, the owner of Downtown Books in Lexington, Virginia, closed her store on Tuesday due to the weather. She hoped to reopen on Wednesday, noting that Lexington and surrounding Rockbridge County are usually efficient at clearing roads. However, the fluctuating temperatures and the impending rain could either clear the roads or make them even more treacherous. “It’s just going to depend on where those temperatures go,” Williams said. “Rain can clear things off, and rain can also freeze. And then you have a lot of skating rinks instead of roads.” The uncertainty of the weather conditions left many business owners and residents on edge, hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.
Bitter Cold Temperatures in the West
While the mid-Atlantic region battles snow and ice, an Arctic air mass has stretched from Portland, Oregon, to the Great Lakes. Butte, Montana, experienced a frigid low of minus 31 degrees, and the Butte Rescue Mission, a local shelter, was distributing cold-weather gear to the homeless to prevent cold exposure. Executive Director Brayton Erickson said, "When it gets this cold, we kind of pull out all the stops." In Multnomah County, Oregon, officials extended a state of emergency through at least Thursday, and five emergency shelters were set to open on Tuesday night. The National Weather Service warned that midweek wind chill readings could dip to 10 degrees in Portland, adding to the challenges faced by the region.
Preparing for Heavy Rain in California
California is gearing up for a powerful atmospheric river, a long band of water vapor capable of transporting moisture from the tropics to more northern areas. The National Weather Service predicts that the storm could flood urban areas across central and Southern California, with heavy snowfall expected in the Sierra Nevada. Miles Bliss, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the storm was expected to peak on Thursday. More than 700,000 sandbags have been arranged across the region to mitigate potential flooding, especially in areas recently ravaged by wildfires. The preparation efforts highlight the ongoing threat of natural disasters and the importance of community resilience in the face of severe weather.
Storm System Impacts Across Multiple States
Another storm system is expected to bring heavy snow to an area stretching from Kansas to the Great Lakes, starting Tuesday night. The Kansas Legislature canceled Wednesday meetings, and Governor Laura Kelly closed state offices in the capital, Topeka. This storm system, combined with the ongoing winter weather in the mid-Atlantic, underscores the widespread nature of the challenges faced by multiple states. From school closures and power outages to road closures and emergency responses, the impact of these weather events is significant and far-reaching. As the week progresses, both the affected regions and their residents will need to remain vigilant and prepared for whatever the weather brings.
