More than 200 million people across the United States are bracing for a significant winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and dangerously low temperatures through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The expansive weather system stretches from the Southern Rockies to New England, prompting warnings of widespread travel disruptions, prolonged power outages, and potential damage to trees.
The National Weather Service advisory highlighted the likelihood of "frigid temperatures, gusty winds, and dangerous wind chills" extending from the north-central U.S. to the Southern Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Midwest. A forecast map issued by the agency indicated that a significant portion of the eastern two-thirds of the country is under some form of winter storm, ice, or extreme cold warning. Governors in at least six states, from Texas to the Northeast, have urged residents to take precautions.
The severity of the impending weather has drawn comparisons to past extreme winter events in North America, such as the 2021 Texas freeze, which crippled the state's power grid and resulted in widespread hardship. Such events underscore the vulnerability of infrastructure in developed nations to increasingly extreme weather patterns, a concern echoed globally as climate change intensifies. In regions like Europe, governments are investing heavily in upgrading energy grids and bolstering emergency response capabilities in anticipation of more frequent and intense storms. Similarly, countries in Asia are grappling with adapting infrastructure to withstand more severe flooding and typhoons.
The U.S. National Weather Service urged residents to "get warm, get safe and stay there," emphasizing the potential for life-threatening conditions. The agency's forecast included minimum wind chill temperatures expected to plummet to dangerous levels across much of the country. Emergency services are preparing for a surge in calls related to hypothermia, frostbite, and traffic accidents. Power companies are also on alert, staging crews and equipment to respond to anticipated outages. The storm's impact is expected to hamper recovery efforts well into next week as frigid temperatures persist.
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