
Important Takeaways:
- The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring the development of a powerful winter storm that has tens of millions of people across at least 22 states from the Midwest to the Northeast on alert for a widespread threat of freezing rain that has already led to numerous reports of icy roads and crashes.
- …as the storm gathers strength, impacts will begin to be seen from the mid-Mississippi Valley on Wednesday and then into the Great Lakes region by Wednesday night.
- Because of this, the Thursday morning commute is expected to be extremely dangerous on untreated roads and highways in cities like Chicago, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio.
- Areas to the east will see the highest potential for significant icing – especially in portions of Maryland and into the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
- Power outages and tree damage are most likely in those locations, as ice accretions greater than a quarter-inch and maybe as high as a half-inch are possible.
- Ice Storm Warnings have been issued in four states, with the National Weather Service office in Charleston, West Virginia, issuing its first Ice Storm Warning in three years.
- “Travel is strongly discouraged,” forecasters warned. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for power outages.”
- The FOX Forecast Center said a second, even stronger storm is expected this weekend.
- The storm is also expected to bring freezing rain to nearly the same areas that are getting impacted during this first storm.
- Heavy snow is looking increasingly likely on Saturday across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region.
- Cities like Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Detroit could see their biggest snowstorm so far this winter.
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