Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc Across the US

Millions face severe weather alerts, including heavy snow, tornadoes, and high winds, as a powerful winter storm sweeps across the country

Severe Weather Alerts Issued for Millions

More than half a million customers were without power early Monday as a wide-ranging pattern of severe weather spread across large parts of the country. Almost 30 million people are under winter alerts, including blizzard warnings extending into Michigan. Additionally, over 120 million people from the Mississippi Valley into New England are under wind alerts, while 60 million from northern Florida to New York state are under the risk for severe storms capable of destructive winds and numerous tornadoes.

Regional Weather Risks

The region at greatest risk for damaging straight-line winds of more than 75 mph and tornadoes was the mid-Atlantic, specifically from northern South Carolina to southern Maryland. Boston, Philadelphia, and New York could see heavy rain and isolated strong wind gusts. Across the Upper Midwest and the upper Great Lakes region, a major winter storm is moving through with heavy snow continuing to fall across Wisconsin and Michigan. As of Monday morning, more than 129,000 customers were without power, according to poweroutage.us. More than 13,000 customers are in the dark in Wisconsin.

Travel Disruptions and Power Outages

Throughout Monday, an additional 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected to fall from eastern Iowa into Michigan. Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, declared a snow emergency for Monday after the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the southeast part of the state. Semi-trucks were left stranded on an interstate in Wisconsin, according to images released by the state's Department of Transportation. Strong winds and blizzard conditions will make travel extremely hazardous in these areas until the weather system moves north into Canada later Monday. Energy companies from New York to Tennessee put workers on standby to respond to repairs from downed power lines. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski warned that people need to be prepared for prolonged and additional power outages.

Air Travel and Ground Stops

Air travel has also been severely affected, with more than 2,700 cancellations within, into or out of the country as of Monday, according to Flightaware.com. More than 3,000 flights have been delayed. A ground stop was ordered at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport due to the weather, but was later lifted, according to an FAA alert. A ground stop has been ordered for Washington Dulles International Airport because of thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms are likely to sweep across the entire eastern U.S. on Monday, with the interior mid-Atlantic the worst-affected region, the weather service said in an early forecast. By Tuesday morning, Florida will be hit by heavy rain and a recent warm spell across the South will be replaced by Arctic air and below-freezing temperatures from the Florida Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, with the wind chill factor.

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