The National Weather Service (NWS) warned a few days ago about major winter storms that would sweep "from coast to coast" and bring historic snowfall and excessive rainfall.
More than 65 million people in 29 states are on alert due to the storm. All-time records were broken for temperatures in cities in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
These extreme conditions significantly impact the lives and mobility of citizens: interstate highways have already been closed from Arizona to Wyoming, where hundreds of drivers have been stranded in their vehicles, thousands of people have been without power, and nearly 7,000 flights have been canceled or delayed.
[4:15PM CST Tue] A major winter storm will unfold over the Lower 48 through the next few days. Impacts will be extreme for some locations with significant snow, blizzard conditions, icing, and record cold temperatures possible. Stay up-to-date with https://t.co/QoghhWuzWz. pic.twitter.com/Ut7vKJkOjP
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 21, 2023
Weather conditions not seen in 30 years
The NWS warned that the "massive winter storm" would spread across the country for approximately seven days. Its latest update added a forecast for an additional six to 12 inches of snow, rain and "very strong winds" of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) "in the West and adjacent High Plains."
In the north, a region accustomed to snowfall, 15 to 25 inches of snow are expected. Parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin will be the hardest hit.
Southwest Oregon, southern Nevada, and California will also be hit, specifically the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin and Four Corners regions. These areas are expected to accumulate three to five inches of snow. Los Angeles is preparing for snowfall conditions not seen in 30 years.
A major winter storm is set to bring copious amounts of snow to many of California's mountain ranges, including southwest Oregon & southern Nevada. Blizzard conditions are expected in the southern Sierra Nevada & the Transverse Ranges on Friday. Here are the latest Key Messages. pic.twitter.com/Pc5Cr8hH0r
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 23, 2023
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) wrote on Twitter:
Put another way: nearly entire population of CA will be able to see snow from some vantage point later this week if they look in the right direction (i.e., toward the highest hills in vicinity). Snow remains very unlikely in CA's major cities, but it'll fall quite nearby. #CAwx https://t.co/m4PNoBtl0z
— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) February 20, 2023
The latest NWS forecast noted that up to a half-inch of snow is expected in places on the Pacific Coast "where snowfall is less common":
Given the depth of cold air that has infiltrated the West, accumulating snow will also be expected over some of the lower foothills and interior valley areas near the Pacific Coast adjacent to the terrain where snowfall is less common.
On the other hand, more than 653,000 residents in Michigan, nearly 150,000 in California, 98,000 in Illinois, 48,000 in Wisconsin, 30,000 in New York and 12,000 in Indiana were without power Wednesday night.
The effects of the winter storms will continue through next Saturday, according to forecasts.
Extreme heat on the east coast
In contrast, new record high temperatures were recorded on the east coast, especially in some cities in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
In both South Carolina and North Carolina, highs ranged from 80ºF to 90ºF. Indianapolis; Cincinnati; Washington; Atlanta; Mobile, Ala.; and some cities in Florida were among the many other places where significant highs were recorded.
We will be approaching record highs across the area today and tomorrow, especially at ATL where we could approach an all time February high. The current Feb record stands at 80°F, with a forecast high today and tomorrow of 79°F at the airport, where our site is located. #gawx
— NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) February 22, 2023
Record highs were broken in Lexington, Ky., reaching 76ºF, surpassing the previous Feb. 22 high of 70ºF recorded 101 years ago. In Nashville, Tenn., temperatures reached 80ºF, beating the 1897 record by 4 degrees.
"We could see records everywhere from Pittsburgh to as far south as Fort Myers, Fla.," noted NWS meteorologist Frank Pereira.