Much of the northern and central U.S., all the way down to California, should expect significant snowfall over the coming days, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of "blizzard conditions" for the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
The NWS Weather Prediction Center forecasts an arctic front tearing into the U.S. from Canada later this week, stretching from Washington to Maine, with a white Christmas likely in many areas.
From Wednesday through to Christmas, Eve the Midwest and Great Lakes should expect "heavy snow and blizzard conditions," with travel conditions "extremely dangerous" into December 24, according to the federal agency.
In an update posted on Twitter, the NWS said: "A storm system will develop Wednesday night and then strengthen while lifting northeast into the Great Lakes by Friday morning. This will result in blizzard conditions across portions of the Central/Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes.
"Heavy snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour at times, along with wind gusts of over 50 mph will result in near zero visibility and considerable blowing and drifting of snow. This will lead to dangerous, to at times impossible, land and air travel leading up to the holiday weekend."
The NWS warned that heavy snow could cause "significant infrastructure impacts," potentially including power outages.
Blizzard conditions will be accompanied by "dangerous wind chills," with residents advised to "prepare now for extreme cold and ensure outdoor animals and livestock have sufficient shelter."
The NWS said there is also a danger of flooding across the Northeast on Friday, due to "heavy rain falling onto a melted snowpack."
Fox Weather forecast snow for interior New York in the run-up to Christmas, along with higher parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Meteorologist Britta Merwin said: "It's very likely that we're going to see a white Christmas across the Northwest, especially the interior.
"And there is a chance that we could see a white Christmas get as far south as places like St. Louis."
Snow could fall as far south as northern Arkansas Oklahoma, according to Fox Weather, along with the valleys of Tennessee and Kentucky.
The best chance of snowfall on Christmas Day itself in the west will be on the Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountains and Sierra Nevada Mountains, with snow potentially extending into northern parts of California.
Washington State and western Oregon are likely to miss out on December 25, due to their lower elevation, but should still expect snowfall in the preceding days.
Further south northern parts of Texas will be hit by the arctic blast in the coming days, raising concerns about the impact on power grids after the dramatic failures of February 2021.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
