Dangerously cold arctic air masses and snow were moving across the U.S. on Sunday night, bringing the most bitterly cold temperatures so far this winter. Parts of 14 states from Washington to Ohio were under winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories thanks to the fast-moving storm.
Wintry weather on Saturday led to numerous accidents in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio due to snow and ice. In Connecticut on Sunday, a pedestrian died after being struck by a snow plow, and in Philadelphia, flights were delayed more than two hours because of weather, including fog and rain. Severe storms heavily damaged mobile homes and downed power lines and trees in Mississippi, with two tornadoes confirmed in the state.
As snow turned to heavy rain in the Pacific Northwest, avalanche warnings were issued Sunday night for the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state.
Snow was falling in Chicago, with some areas reporting up to 3 inches, NBC Chicago reported. More snow was forecast there on Monday, with a second weather front moving in that could bring up to 6 inches of snow through Tuesday.
Bitter temperatures will sweep the country with the first arctic mass set to target the Plains and Great Lakes region and last through Monday. An even colder shot midweek will stretch through the Midwest, the Southeast and the Northeast, with temperatures set to fall 10 to 35 degrees below average, according to The Weather Channel. It said that wind chills could drop into the single digits and below zero for the Southeast on Wednesday.
Snow showers continued in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley on Sunday, while snow and freezing rain will fall near the U.S. Canadian border in the Northeast, according to The Weather Channel. It said parts of the upper Midwest, upstate New York and northern New England could pick up 6 inches or more of total snowfall through Sunday.
IN-DEPTH
- Twisters Hit Mississippi as Storms Sweep Through South
- Snow, Freezing Rain Could Hamper Travel in Midwest and Northeast
- 'Blanket of Snow': Winter Blast Ices Over Southwest, Heads North
SOCIAL
— Cassandra Vinograd and Miranda Leitsinger