BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Winter weather returns to parts of the United States in the coming days, with bone-chilling winds across the Northern Plains and extreme snow and ice across the Gulf Coast. expected to arrive.
With cold weather forecast for Monday in Washington, D.C., President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony has been moved to inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Much of the United States, from the Rockies to the Northern Plains, will see below-normal temperatures Sunday and into next week, with wind chills down to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Celsius) or lower in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota. It is expected to be cold. Mark Chennard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said:
In cold conditions like this, frostbite can develop on exposed skin within 10 minutes, so people should wear coats, hats and gloves and minimize their time outdoors, according to the Bismarck National Weather Service. meteorologist Connor Smith said.
The cold air will weaken as it moves south and east, but the central and eastern U.S. will remain cold Monday into Tuesday, with highs in the teens to 20s, Chenard said. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will also see highs in the teens and 20s, lows in the single digits below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius), and wind chills below zero.
“The cold front will affect many parts of the country, especially the Rocky Mountains and the East,” Chenard said.
He said extreme winter weather including snow, sleet and freezing rain threatens from Texas to northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are expected to begin in Texas on Monday night and spread to the Gulf Coast and Southeast through Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It’s going to be another relatively fast-moving storm, but it’s likely to produce some impactful winter weather in areas where we don’t see it very often,” Chenard said.
Impacts along the coast could include sleet, freezing rain and ice buildup on roads, while areas away from the coast could see mostly snow and sleet, he said. He said several inches of snow could fall, which could disrupt travel in areas not accustomed to snow.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a state of emergency Saturday ahead of the winter weather. He encouraged Louisianans to be prepared and keep an eye on the weather forecast.
Like earlier this month, the cold snap was caused by a disruption of the polar vortex, a ring of cold air normally trapped around the North Pole.
Meanwhile, snow will move into the Mid-Atlantic Coast and parts of the Northeast, starting in the Mid-Atlantic Coast on Sunday and spreading toward New York City and New England later in the day, Chennard said. Chennard said heavier snow could fall in a short period of time, with 2 inches (5 centimeters) to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow possible.
Chennard said the area will experience typical winter weather with some plowable snow. He said drivers could encounter dangerous conditions in the east and there could be problems at some airports.
Baltimore city officials canceled the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade scheduled for Monday after forecasts of snow and frigid temperatures.
Mayor Brandon Scott told the X Show that it was a “difficult decision” made out of “an abundance of caution for the safety of our participants and spectators.”
This is the second year in a row that the parade has been canceled due to concerns about winter weather.
In Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont ordered the state’s severe cold weather protocols to go into effect from 6 p.m. Sunday until noon Friday. During this time of year, temperatures are expected to remain below freezing throughout the day, while nighttime temperatures can dip into the single digits and even below freezing.
When the state’s severe winter protocols are activated, state agencies and local governments work with homeless shelters and community services 24-hour hotlines to help people in need find shelter, including moving them from the outdoors to shelters. We can ensure that you receive it.
