Winter storm hits Midwest, threatens travel for millions

Millions of Americans are currently in the path a strong winter storm that began to impact the Midwest Friday. 

The heavy snowfall in the region caused school closures, altered instruction, and deterioration in travel conditions. 

Southwest Airlines advised of possible flight cancellations and delays at airports in St. Louis and the Twin Cities, Kansas City and Kansas City on Friday and Saturday.

The National Weather Service (NWS), issued a winter storm alert for parts of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Iowa, and Illinois. Forecasters were expecting as much as 10 inches.

WINTER SSTORM TO BRING FREEZING ICE, RAIN, AND SNOW POTENTIAL TO PLAINS, MIDWEST

Motorists reported that roads on Interstate 94, North Dakota, were covered in ice and snow.

The storm system will track through the Mid-Mississippi Valley and into the Southeast before moving up the Eastern Seaboard by Monday.

South Carolina shoppers searched storm shelves for supplies. Henry McMaster issued an urgent order. 

The governor stated that “South Carolina will be impacted this weekend by a major snowstorm, likely beginning Sunday morning.” “There is the potential for very dangerous conditions due to accumulations of snow and ice, which will likely cause power outages throughout the state. I urge South Carolinians not to ignore their local weather forecasts, and to take safety precautions. Tomorrow afternoon, we will hold a press briefing to provide updates to residents about the latest information regarding this winter storm.

According to the NWS, snow accumulations could reach as high as Northeast Georgia between Saturday night and Sunday. Ice and winds gusting up to 35 mph can also cause power outages and dangerous travel conditions. The highest elevations could see snow accumulations of up to 8 inches.

Winter storm watches were posted in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Georgia for Saturday. 

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who also declared a state of emergencyLate Friday, the state stated that it was preparing to “to the maximum.”

Parts of Tennessee could see up to 6 inches of snow. Northern Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley region in Alabama could also experience light snow accumulations. 

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North Carolina Governor. Roy Cooper, the North Carolina governor, declared a state emergency on Friday. The administration advised people to stay at their homes after the storm. 

“This storm will have significant impacts from snow and sleet in different parts of California, with likely power outages. There will also be travel disruptions,” he stated in a statement. “North Carolinians should be paying attention to the weather forecasts for the next few weeks and making sure they are prepared for Saturday afternoon.”

The North Carolina Department of Transportation warned crews that there might not be enough labor to respond to emergencies as quickly as usual due to labor shortages.

Virginia Governor. Ralph Northam declared an emergency and urged residents to be prepared for the storm.

Virginia State Police warned people to avoid travel over the weekend – just days after a previous blizzard left thousands of motorists trapped on part of Interstate 95.

This image was provided by Virginia department of Transportation and shows a section of Interstate 95 that was closed Monday near Fredericksburg, Va. 
(Virginia Department of Transportation/AP).

The storm is expected to bring snow, sleet and ice to most of the state. In parts of southwestern Virginia, up to a foot of precipitation is forecast.

Friday’s alert by the Virginia National Guard was for storm response. 60 soldiers were planned to be deployed along the Interstate 81/Route 460 corridors.

The Northeast saw bitterly cold weather prevail over the storm. 

According to the NWS, the storm will move from Southeast to northern Mid-Atlantic. There will be pockets of rain and freezing rain over the region and southern Appalachians overnight Saturday.

On Sunday, the agency said that heavy snow was expected to fall in parts of the central, southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic. It also warned of “significant areas” of rain or freezing rain.

Forecasts predict snow will move into parts of the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes. Rain and freezing rain will shift into the northern Mid-Atlantic.

“Meanwhile, the boundary between central Canada and the upper Midwest will move into our region by Sunday. The system will produce light snow in the upper Mississippi Valley and upper Great Lakes on Sunday, and it will begin to recede by Monday morning. The NWS stated that the snow would cause reduced visibility and dangerous driving conditions.

This report was contributed by The Associated Press.