A historic winter storm is set to bring record snowfall and blizzard conditions to the Midwest United States this week, with an estimated 40 million people in its path. The National Weather Service has warned of potentially life-threatening travel conditions and power outages, with snowfall as quickly as 5cm (2 inches) per hour. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, located on the state line between Minnesota and Wisconsin, could receive up to 50.8cm (1.6 ft) of snow.
In anticipation of the extreme weather, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced the city was “planning to declare a snow emergency on Wednesday”, and public school buildings have been closed through Friday. The storm is expected to roll through the region in two waves: the first lasting through Wednesday morning and the second, “more impactful” portion arriving Wednesday afternoon and continuing through Thursday.
The winter storm is caused by an Arctic air mass moving south from Canada into the US, combining with two “energetic” fronts and pushing eastward across the Great Plains region towards the Great Lakes. Winds could whip up to 128.7km per hour (80 mph) in some areas, and temperatures could plunge 20 to 30 degrees below average, with the wind chill making some areas feel like -32C (-25F).
The storm comes as climate change supercharges extreme weather events, from droughts to heavy snow. Other parts of the country are also experiencing unusual weather events, with near record warmth forecast into early next week in Jacksonville, Florida and the possibility of light snowfall in California’s San Francisco Bay Area — something not seen since 1976.
The Midwest United States is bracing for a historic winter storm this week, with an estimated 40 million people in its path. The National Weather Service has warned of potentially life-threatening travel conditions and power outages, with snowfall as quickly as 5cm (2 inches) per hour. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, located on the state line between Minnesota and Wisconsin, could receive up to 50.8cm (1.6 ft) of snow.
In anticipation of the extreme weather, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a snow emergency on Wednesday and public school buildings have been closed through Friday. The storm is expected to roll through the region in two waves: the first lasting through Wednesday morning and the second, “more impactful” portion arriving Wednesday afternoon and continuing through Thursday.
The winter storm is caused by an Arctic air mass moving south from Canada into the US, combining with two “energetic” fronts and pushing eastward across the Great Plains region towards the Great Lakes. Winds could reach speeds of up to 128.7km per hour (80 mph) in some areas, and temperatures could plunge 20 to 30 degrees below average, with the wind chill making some areas feel like -32C (-25F).
This storm is further evidence of climate change supercharging extreme weather events, from droughts to heavy snow. Other parts of the country are also experiencing unusual weather events, with near record warmth forecast into early next week in Jacksonville, Florida and the possibility of light snowfall in California’s San Francisco Bay Area — something not seen since 1976.
Residents in affected areas should take all necessary precautions to stay safe during this storm. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has urged people to stay off the roads if possible and check road conditions before travelling. The National Weather Service has also warned people to be prepared for power outages and take necessary steps to protect their homes from extreme cold temperatures.