Winter storm warnings are in place in six states across the U.S., with up to 20 inches of snow forecast in some areas.
The six states under winter storm warnings are New York, Vermont, Maryland, West Virginia, Colorado and Wyoming.
New York: The National Weather Service has warned of up to 14 inches of snow, and wind gusts of up to 50 mph, with the strongest winds expected on Thursday.
Vermont: A warning is in place in northeast and northwest Vermont. Between 4 and 14 inches of snow is expected, and wind gusts of up to 50 mph, with the strongest winds expected on Thursday.
Maryland: Through Friday and Saturday morning, up to 8 inches of snow could fall, according to the NWS, with winds of up to 50 mph. Residents are warned that roads and bridges could be hazardous and that travel could be “very difficult” and that visibility may fall below a quarter-mile due to heavy snowfall and blowing snow. Strong winds combined with the weight of snow on tree limbs could also bring down power lines, leading to sporadic outages.
West Virginia: Areas including Garrett County in Maryland and Western Grant, Western Pendleton, Southeast Webster, Northwest Pocahontas, and Southeast Randolph Counties in West Virginia remain under a winter storm warning until 4 a.m. Thursday. These regions could see up to 4 inches of additional snowfall, with winds gusting as high as 50 mph. Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, are expected to become slick and dangerous, with reduced visibility due to blowing snow.
Colorado: For the Elkhead and Park Mountains, the NWS predicts total snow accumulations of 8 to 16 inches, and wind gusts of up to 40 mph, exacerbating the hazards of blowing snow and reduced visibility. Travel in the region, including through towns like Columbine, Hahns Peak, and Toponas, could be very difficult. Drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution as slick and hazardous conditions are expected, especially on bridges and overpasses.
Wyoming: A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Sierra Madre and Snowy Ranges until 5 p.m. MST Thursday. These areas could see snow accumulations of 12 to 20 inches, accompanied by wind gusts up to 50 mph. The combination of falling and blowing snow is expected to cause extremely low visibility, posing significant risks for hunters, hikers, and snowmobilers.
A polar vortex is a stream of cold air and could mean severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures that could affect travel conditions and lead to school closures.
“Below-normal temperatures are favored across the central and eastern U.S. during much of January,” the NWS said last week.