Thousands of power line workers were on standby as a huge winter storm barreled toward the eastern two-thirds of the United States, threatening crippling ice, widespread power outages and bitterly cold conditions, according to forecasters cited by the Associated Press. The storm was expected to bring catastrophic damage risk particularly in areas pounded by ice.
Forecasters said the system could begin Friday in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, before moving east into the Deep South and then up the coast to bring snow to New England. The storm’s footprint was expected to include a crippling ice event from Texas through parts of the South, potentially about a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Oklahoma through Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, and then a final punch of bitter cold.
The coldest phase, AP reported, could drive wind chills down to as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 46 Celsius) in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. AP said about 160 million people were under winter storm or cold weather watches or warnings as the storm approached, with many areas facing both advisories.
Officials in multiple regions took early action. Chicago Public Schools and Des Moines Public Schools canceled classes Friday, citing cold air streaming down from Canada. Forecasters warned that predicted wind chills as low as minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 37 Celsius) could cause frostbite within 10 minutes, making it too dangerous to walk to school or wait for buses.
Authorities also warned that the danger could last beyond the worst precipitation. AP said it could take a while to thaw out after the cold punch, leaving roads and sidewalks icy well into next week in places where ice and snow weigh down tree branches and power lines and cut electricity—potentially for days. The storm system’s impact on infrastructure was underscored by the warning that ice can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping in windy weather.
Several governors declared emergency preparations while emphasizing safety and public readiness. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency, while acknowledging that forecast details can change quickly—AP noted that winter storms are notoriously tricky to forecast and that the worst conditions may not be pinned down until the event begins. Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that a severe cold snap five years ago that took down much of the power grid in Texas won’t happen again, adding that the power system “has never been stronger.”
In the Houston area, CenterPoint Energy—described by AP as serving more than 2.8 million customers—said it had 3,300 employees ready to work the winter storm, according to Paul Lock, the company’s local government affairs director. Other states’ preparations included contingency schoolwork and road treatment. AP reported that the Wake County school system told teachers to create three days of assignments accessible online or through paper copies. Brine trucks were treating roads from Oklahoma to Tennessee, with more states expected to do the same as conditions approached.
Governors also urged residents to prepare for possible disruptions to daily life and transportation. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger told residents to prepare for days without power or the ability to leave their neighborhoods, while also telling them it’s important not to be afraid to call 911 in an emergency even amid immigration crackdowns in places like Minnesota. Arkansas Department of Transportation spokesperson Dave Parker pleaded for people to be patient and stay home if possible once the storm hits, even if clearing ice takes days.
In Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry implored residents: “I beg you, please take this serious,” as his team highlighted road preparations and said some 5,000 power line workers are on standby. Meanwhile, airlines canceled about 250 flights scheduled in the U.S. on Friday and another 400 on Saturday, AP reported, citing FlightAware.com data showing Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa among the airports with the highest numbers of cancellations.
As residents prepared for possible outages and travel changes, AP included accounts of people stocking up and waiting out the storm. In north Georgia, Atlanta resident Jennifer Girard bought blankets and batteries at a Walmart in Chamblee with her 21-month-old baby, and she said: “I used to live in Florida. We used to do that all the time for hurricane season, so it’s not so different.” In Kentucky, Brownsboro Hardware store manager Matthew Isham said the storm “has people on edge,” adding that he’d heard “a ton of people saying they don’t think they’re going to get in or out of their driveway if it does snow like they’re saying.”
AP also reported grocery-store shortages and local caution about travel. Frank Green said: “No water, no eggs, no butter, no ground meat.” Esther Hernandez said she was “fine” and “not going anywhere.” And in West Virginia, organizers said the annual West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show would go on, with Glen Jarrell, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Trophy Hunters Association, saying: “We’re not thinking about stopping. We don’t care if it’s rain, snow or high water.”
Megnien reported from Atlanta, and Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press writers around the country contributed to this report.