More Than 75% of the US Bracing for Freezing Temperatures as Rare Winter Storm Targets the South

Most of the United States is grappling with extreme winter weather this week as Arctic air sweeps south from Canada, snow blankets the Northeast, and a potentially severe winter storm targets the South.

Travelers are encountering delays on Sunday, with freezing temperatures expected to impact over 75% of the nation throughout the week.

More than 70 million people are under winter weather advisories and storm warnings from Tennessee to Maine. Many Northeast cities are bracing for snow as a low-pressure system delivers a swift burst of snowfall along the I-95 corridor from Virginia to Maine, spanning Sunday into early Monday.

Washington, DC, is forecast to receive 1 to 3 inches of snow, with up to 6 inches expected in New York and Boston. Hartford, Connecticut, could see 5 to 7 inches, while Portland, Maine, may receive as much as 8 inches. Philadelphia, where a snow emergency was declared Sunday evening, is anticipated to get 4 to 6 inches of snow, accompanied by below-freezing temperatures Sunday night.

In Washington, DC, a cold weather emergency was activated, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced in a Sunday post on X, cautioning residents about dangerously low overnight temperatures. Due to the frigid conditions, it was announced that President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration would be held indoors on Monday, marking the first indoor presidential inauguration since Ronald Reagan’s in 1985.

By Sunday evening, at least 1,100 flights within, into, or out of the US had been canceled, with another 5,017 delayed, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Over 20% of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport were canceled.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in response to the storm.

As always, I urge all New Jerseyans to exercise caution, follow safety protocols, and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, Governor Murphy advised in a post on X Saturday.

Meanwhile, the South is preparing for a rare and potentially disruptive winter storm, though the forecast remains uncertain. Louisiana has declared a state of emergency, and Texas has directed state agencies to mobilize resources in anticipation of snow.

In Houston, Texas, both civilian airports will be closed throughout Tuesday, Mayor John Whitmire announced during a Sunday evening news conference. Schools in the Houston Independent School District — the largest in Texas and the eighth-largest in the nation — will remain closed until Wednesday, Whitmire added.

The city could see up to 5 inches of snow beginning Monday night, according to the National Weather Service in Houston, which warned of freezing rain and icy roads creating hazardous travel conditions through midday Wednesday. Overnight temperatures are expected to stay below freezing from Sunday through Friday, the agency reported.

Arctic air will engulf much of the US this week, bringing prolonged extreme cold to several states. Nearly 150 million people are under cold weather alerts, with forecasters warning of risks such as frozen pipes, frostbite, and significant travel disruptions.

More than two dozen record-low temperatures are possible this week in cities such as Cleveland, Kansas City, and Houston, with temperatures expected to plunge 20 to 30 degrees below average.

Denver is forecast to reach a high of just 9 degrees on Monday, an astonishing 36 degrees below its normal high of 45.

In Southern cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, and Birmingham, high temperatures may not climb above freezing on Monday and Tuesday.

An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes, the National Weather Service in Atlanta warned.

Houston’s mayor echoed this concern, urging residents to prepare their water pipes ahead of the cold snap. Let me emphasize the importance of protecting your pipes, Mayor Whitmire said on Sunday. Wrap your pipes wherever possible.

The mayor stated that he is convinced we are about to experience a very serious and dangerous weather event.

He urged residents to stay indoors, check on vulnerable neighbors and family members, and make use of one of the city’s 24-hour warming centers. Officials are working to encourage homeless individuals to seek shelter at these centers, he added.

Wind will also play a significant role in the cold conditions. Wind speeds of 15 to 25 mph, combined with already frigid temperatures, will create wind chills as low as minus 25 to 50 degrees below zero from Sunday to Tuesday across the Midwest and Northern Plains. These conditions could lead to frostbite on exposed skin in under 10 minutes.

More than 30 million people from Texas to Georgia are under winter storm watches as a rare winter storm moves across the Gulf Coast and Southeast this week.

The storm’s impacts are expected to begin in Texas on Monday, with the Weather Prediction Center warning of significant traffic and travel disruptions through mid-week.

A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is anticipated along and south of the Interstate 20 corridor, with some areas experiencing potentially heavy snow or sleet. The sleet and freezing rain could stretch as far south as the Interstate 10 corridor.

The latest forecast predicts at least 3 inches of snow in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Louisiana; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; and Houston, Texas.

Ice accumulation may also lead to power outages and downed trees.