US Tries to Prepare as Another Winter Storm Bears Down on the Country
Another brutal winter storm is forecasted to hit the US East coast this weekend, bringing subfreezing temperatures that could plunge deep into what was once a warm Florida peninsula. With forecasts predicting 6 inches of snow and white-out conditions in the Carolinas, northern Georgia, and southern Virginia, the country is bracing for another round of wintry weather.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring a powerful winter storm system expected to form off the Carolinas by Friday night, which could intensify into a "bomb cyclone," characterized by strong winds and massive snow drifts that could bury cars. While forecast models show varying degrees of confidence in its trajectory, officials say that everyone will need to prepare for some level of disruption.
For the coastal Carolinas and Virginia, there is higher confidence among meteorologists that significant snowfall can be expected this weekend, but uncertainty remains over where it might move next. The storm's path could take it along the coast or veer off to sea altogether, leaving the nation unsure about what exactly to expect.
Private meteorologist Ryan Maue warns of a "boom or bust" situation in the mid-Atlantic and north, with high winds expected if the storm follows its current predicted track. This could leave areas outside of heavy snowfall still feeling the effects of strong gusts that may push daytime temperatures into the teens.
Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist for Climate Central, attributes the storm's strength to warmer-than-normal water in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Gulf Stream, which will pull in more moisture as it forms. The drop in atmospheric pressure could make the storm powerful enough to produce hurricane-like conditions, Maue notes.
While forecast models have some confidence in a powerful winter storm system affecting the East coast, long-range predictions suggest another storm may hit at the end of February's first week, signaling that winter is not yet done with the country.
Another brutal winter storm is forecasted to hit the US East coast this weekend, bringing subfreezing temperatures that could plunge deep into what was once a warm Florida peninsula. With forecasts predicting 6 inches of snow and white-out conditions in the Carolinas, northern Georgia, and southern Virginia, the country is bracing for another round of wintry weather.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring a powerful winter storm system expected to form off the Carolinas by Friday night, which could intensify into a "bomb cyclone," characterized by strong winds and massive snow drifts that could bury cars. While forecast models show varying degrees of confidence in its trajectory, officials say that everyone will need to prepare for some level of disruption.
For the coastal Carolinas and Virginia, there is higher confidence among meteorologists that significant snowfall can be expected this weekend, but uncertainty remains over where it might move next. The storm's path could take it along the coast or veer off to sea altogether, leaving the nation unsure about what exactly to expect.
Private meteorologist Ryan Maue warns of a "boom or bust" situation in the mid-Atlantic and north, with high winds expected if the storm follows its current predicted track. This could leave areas outside of heavy snowfall still feeling the effects of strong gusts that may push daytime temperatures into the teens.
Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist for Climate Central, attributes the storm's strength to warmer-than-normal water in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Gulf Stream, which will pull in more moisture as it forms. The drop in atmospheric pressure could make the storm powerful enough to produce hurricane-like conditions, Maue notes.
While forecast models have some confidence in a powerful winter storm system affecting the East coast, long-range predictions suggest another storm may hit at the end of February's first week, signaling that winter is not yet done with the country.