New York has officially declared a state of emergency in preparation for an impending severe winter storm set to impact the United States. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state’s readiness and ample salt supplies for road treatment during a recent press conference. In response, all state employees have been authorized to work remotely on Monday.
With a low-pressure system from the Southwest converging with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and frigid Arctic air from Canada, 14 states have already declared emergencies. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts the storm originating over the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains to affect southern and midwestern states from Friday, moving towards the east coast by Saturday and reaching Maine by Sunday.
The NWS warns of widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain stretching from the Southern Rockies to New England, covering areas from Texas through Washington DC, New York, and Boston. Approximately 160 million people, equivalent to nearly half of the country’s population, in 30 states are expected to experience significant snow and ice accumulations, with some regions anticipating over 12 inches of snow by the weekend’s end. States under emergency declarations include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Described as a combination of heavy snow, blowing snow, and dangerous wind chills, the winter storm poses potential risks according to the NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. The NWS highlights the likelihood of substantial ice accumulations leading to prolonged power outages, tree damage, and hazardous travel conditions.
US President Donald Trump, known for his skepticism towards climate change, raised concerns about the record cold wave affecting 40 states on Truth Social. Meteorologists attribute the cold surge to the Polar Vortex, a phenomenon of low pressure and cold air encircling the poles, which is pushing Arctic air across North America. Scientific research suggests that disruptions in the polar vortex due to Arctic warming can contribute to extreme winter weather occurrences.