'Prolific snowmaker' storm threatens swaths of U.S., leaving store shelves empty

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Forecasters warn of panic buying frenzy sweeping parts of U.S. winter storm Set to hit 33 states this weekend covering nearly 2,000 miles, delivering hard blows Snow and dangerous ice More than 180 million people.

As early as Wednesday, pictures and videos shared on social media showed grocery store aisles empty of staples like milk, bread and bottled water as residents prepared for the holidays. stormThe expected impacts, particularly in states less accustomed to severe winter weather, include alabama, Texas and tennessee.

Dubbing winter storm ferns weather channelforecasters predict it will bring dangerous heavy Snowsleet and destructive ice From the southern plains through the Midwest to the Northeast.

Forecasters said the system could affect more than 180 million Americans as snow and ice spread from Texas and New Mexico Heading to New England.

AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said the storm will begin forming in the Rockies and Plains on Friday before moving south into Texas and up into the Northeast independent Wednesday.

Grocery store shelves are being cleared across the U.S. as winter storm Fern is expected to bring heavy snow or ice to 33 states stretching from Arizona to the Midwest, South and New England (Getty)

“This could end up being the biggest winter storm of the season,” Buckingham said. “Without a doubt, this will be right up there among the most impactful storms of the season.”

As the timing and path of the storm become clearer, National Weather Service winter storm watches and warnings are in effect for multiple areas from the southern Rockies to parts of the Southeast and into the Ohio Valley and Northeast.

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Major cities including Dallas, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City are among the expected routes.

The storm is expected to develop on Friday, with snow, sleet and freezing rain increasing across the Plains and spreading eastward through the weekend. In southern states, forecasters warned that heavy accumulations of ice could render roads impassable and knock down tree branches and power lines, potentially leading to widespread power outages.

Further north, from New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle through the Midwest and Northeast, the threat of heavy snow is greatest, with many areas likely to see at least six inches of snow and, in some cases, a foot or more.

AccuWeather forecasts storms extending from the Great Plains and Rockies into Texas and Massachusetts (AccuWeather Map)

Travel disruptions, including flight delays and cancellations, are expected at major hub airports due to the peak of snow and ice over the weekend.

As the storm moves away early next week, colder Arctic air will follow, bringing temperatures well below seasonal normals and creating an additional risk of ice forming on untreated surfaces.

Deep freezes in some states could also cause burst trees, power lines and pipes. With temperatures set to remain below freezing for much of next week, de-icing and repairing power outages may take time, and forecasters are urging people to take precautions and prepare in advance.

Here’s what to expect in each region of the United States.

Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and South

Ice and snow are expected from the Rockies to the Great Plains, creating a corridor of ice and snow before heading south toward Texas.

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“This is a moisture-laden storm that will collide with arctic air to the north,” Buckingham said. “At that point, large swaths of ice and snow are expected to sweep across the central plains of the United States and into the Mississippi River Valley and parts of the southern and south-central United States during the day Saturday.”

Drought-affected states such as Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico will see snow accumulation, while Utah and Arizona may see less snow. Accuweather snowfall forecasts for Albuquerque, New Mexico range from 1-3 inches to a foot.

Forecasters warn that severe winter weather including heavy snow and ice could knock out trees and power lines across the U.S. this weekend (Getty)

Cities like Denver, Wichita, Oklahoma City and Tulsa could see snow, sleet and freezing rain on Friday. Oklahoma City falls in the 6-12 inches range.

“This will be an icy corridor and we will be monitoring the situation closely as it develops,” Buckingham said.

The storm is expected to worsen into Saturday, bringing heavy snow and ice along Interstate 40 from New Mexico to the Carolinas. Parts of Texas are expected to receive 3-6 inches of snow.

Threatening ice storms could also affect residents from Texas all the way to the Carolinas.

Meanwhile, bone-chilling temperatures are expected, with temperatures in Dallas, Texas, dropping below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 to 60 consecutive hours.

Southeast

Ice and snow are expected to extend into the southeastern part of the country on Saturday, hitting parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama.

“Looking north of these locations, where the rain fell there was snow,” Buckingham said.

“This will be a prolific snowmaker for many areas that are used to snow, but for a snowfall of this magnitude, many of those areas don’t have the same resources as areas further north,” he added.

Cold temperatures are expected across the country, including 48 to 60 consecutive hours of temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in Texas (Associated Press)

Buckingham said the heaviest snowfall is likely along Interstate 44 south of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to St. Louis, Missouri.

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“The corridor of heaviest snow should be north of the transition line, where the ice-snow mixture and pure snow lines are,” Buckingham said.

As the storm moves toward the coast on Saturday, severe ice storms are possible in places like Atlanta, the southern Appalachians and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“Then you get into Carolina,” Buckingham said. “The Northeast and central South Carolina, places like Charlotte and even Raleigh, are going to have potentially significant ice issues during the second half of the weekend.”

Farther north, in areas with cooler air such as the Ohio Valley, the central Appalachians, Virginia, Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, “snowfall is expected to expand and increase in intensity” from Saturday into Sunday, Buckingham said.

This storm will likely bring all the snow from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast.

“I think there’s a good chance the storm system will produce 12-plus inches of snow,” Buckingham said.

northeast

The storm will move northeastward on Sunday as snow continues to accumulate across much of the country.

A corridor of snow is expected to push north along Interstate 95, potentially bringing snow to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

The storm is expected to move northeast on Sunday, hitting cities including New York (Reuters)

“Conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly in places such as New York City, much of Pennsylvania and southern New England as snow falls,” Buckingham said.

According to Accuweather, New York could see 6-12 inches of snow, while Washington, D.C., is currently in the same forecast range.

Forecasters are still unsure when the storm will weaken.

“There remains some question as to the storm’s ultimate actions as it moves off the Atlantic Coast Sunday night into Monday,” Buckingham said, noting that some areas in the Northeast could even see snow on Monday.