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Millions of Americans are bracing for a potentially catastrophic ice storm that could sweep across the country, causing widespread power outages and severe travel disruptions. Forecasters warned that severe weather, expected to begin Friday and continue through the weekend, could knock down trees and power lines from New Mexico to the Carolinas, leaving communities without power for days.
Meanwhile, northern states stretching into New England are expected to see enough snow to make travel nearly impossible. The National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday that an estimated 100 million people are already under some form of winter weather warning.
The storm is also expected to bring heavy snow, freezing rain and sleet, with a wet “atmospheric river” expected to bring precipitation across Texas, the Gulf Coast states, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Here’s a look at the coming storm by the numbers and how people can prepare:
Number of snowplows owned by the city jackson, mississippithere may be freezing and rainy weather this weekend. Deputy Public Works Director James Caldwell said the city uses skid steer loaders and other heavy machinery such as mini excavators to clear roads. jackson There are also three trucks carrying salt and sand to spread on the roads ahead of freezing weather.
0.5
The amount of ice (half an inch, or 1.27 centimeters) could cause severe ice storms, downing trees and power lines, causing widespread and lasting power outages. The latest forecast comes from National Weather Service Warning of half-inch or more ice possible in many areas, including some Arkansas, Louisiana, alabamaand Tennessee.
1
quantity nashville Snow plow named after country music legend and Tennessee native dolly parton (Dolly Proughton). As part of the 2022 naming contest, another snowplow in East Tennessee has been named Snowlene after the classic hit song “Jolene.”
3
The number of layers needed to stay warm in extremely cold conditions. AP video reporter Mark Vancleave of Minnesota explains the benefits of these three layers (base, middle and outer shell) in this video.
4
A number of major hub airports in the path of the southern U.S. storm this weekend, where ice, sleet and snow could cause passenger and cargo delays: Dallas-Fort Worth; Atlanta; memphisTennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina. As the storm moves eastward, more major airports along the East Coast may experience delays.
12
Inches of snow possible in some areas Oklahoma.
“You have to be very aware of weather conditions and very smart about what you’re doing,” said Charles Daniel, who drives a semitrailer through western Oklahoma.
“One mistake can literally kill a person, so you have to use your head,” he added.
15
Number of snow and ice removal trucks operated by the Memphis, Tennessee Department of Public Works. The city also has six trucks spreading brine, a mixture designed to melt winter precipitation. Statewide, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has 851 salt trucks and 634 brine trucks, and most of the salt trucks double as plows.
No. 19
As of Wednesday evening, at least parts of 19 states in the storm’s path were under winter storm watches, with more watches and warnings expected as the system approaches. They include Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
An estimated 55 million people are under winter storm watches, the weather service said.
32
The degree Fahrenheit at which water freezes is equivalent to 0 degrees Celsius. National Weather Service scientist Eric Gilot said that’s a magic number for winter weather. If the temperature is slightly above 32 degrees, it is mostly liquid. But the lower the substandard temperatures, the more efficiently precipitation freezes.
45
Number of snow plows ready nashvilleTennessee, according to the Nashville Department of Transportation and Intermodal Infrastructure.
50 below zero
Wind chill values (how cold it feels when winds are taken into account) are what the weather service expects in parts of the northern Plains. Temperatures in parts of northern Minnesota and North Dakota are expected to be -45.6 degrees Celsius.
“When the forecast says ‘it feels like minus 34 degrees,’ just cover up and be prepared,” said Nils Anderson, owner of Duluth Gear Exchange, an outdoor gear store in Duluth, Minnesota.
330
The number of snowplows in the City of Chicago averages 37 to 39 inches (0.94 to 0.99 meters) of annual snowfall. Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard said the city also has 40 4×4 vehicles and about a dozen beet juice distribution trucks. The natural sugars in beet juice lower the freezing point of water, allowing the salt mixture to work at lower temperatures and preventing refreezing, while also helping the salt stick to the road longer.
600
Snowplow routes in Nashville, Tennessee, racked up miles last year. Alex Apple, a spokesman for Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, said the move was “to get deeper into our communities — roads that have never been plowed before.”
More than 1,000
Texas has this amount of winter weather equipment, including snowplows, graders and brine tankers, said Adam Hammons, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation. The agency is also working with state partners and contractors to obtain additional equipment if needed, he said. In the Dallas area, “our main focus right now is treating roadways ahead of the storm,” agency spokesman Tony Hartzell said Wednesday.
78,000
Arkansas Department of Transportation cubic yard quantities of salt available. The state has 121 salt rooms around Arkansas, as well as 600 salt spreaders and 700 snowplows, said agency spokesman Dave Parker.