Massive Winter Storm To Disrupt Holiday Travel

Arctic air, snow, and a large winter storm are heading to slam the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday.

The countries will experience frigid air on Wednesday and Thursday. Many cities are on Wind Chill Watch or Wind Chill advisory, such as Albuquerque, New Mexico; Odessa, Texas; San Angelo, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Little Rock Arkansas, to name a few. Other winter hazards are in effect in both Georgia and Montana as the cold continues.

A storm is expected to become a massive bomb cyclone between Wednesday and Friday. It will bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions across the Plains, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Northeast and some parts of the mid-Atlantic. However, Chicago, northern Indiana and western Michigan may face the brunt of the storm. Widespread power outages from winds are likely across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England. The storm is also dangerous to energy infrastructures that are vulnerable to extreme cold and strong winds, such as Texas’ power grid.

Amid the holiday season, multiple international air travel hubs along with the millions of people traveling this time of year will likely be affected by the storm, too. Many flights will likely be delayed or canceled this Christmas weekend.

Mount Holly’s National Weather Service pointed out that current temperatures forecast for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Philadelphia would be the coldest that two day period has seen since 1989.

Many other areas will experience wind with this low-pressure system as well, making temperatures feel anywhere from -20 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 to 4 degrees Celcius) this week. At 15 degrees below zero with even a little bit of wind, frostbite is possible within 15 minutes.

“The weather team wants to stress that these temperatures and wind chills could be life-threatening this week,” said Currently’s Chief Meteorologist Megan Montero. “Everyone is encouraged to stay indoors during this event and help others get to warm shelter, if they can.”