atlanta — Millions of Americans from New Mexico to North Carolina are preparing for war Potentially catastrophic snow storm Forecasters say it could crush trees and power lines and knock out power for days, while many northern states all the way to New England could see enough snow to make travel nearly impossible.
An estimated 100 million people were under some type of winter weather watch, warning or advisory on the Wednesday before the storm, the National Weather Service said.
The storm, which is expected to begin Friday and last through the weekend, is also expected to bring heavy snow and all types of wintry precipitation, including freezing rain and sleet. that Atmospheric river Forecasters said moisture could be in place by the end of the week, bringing rain across Texas and other states along the Gulf Coast and continuing through Georgia and the Carolinas.
Here’s a look at the approaching storm and how people are preparing for it, by the numbers:
Number of snowplows owned by Jackson, Mississippi, where a mix of ice and sleet is likely this weekend. The city is using other heavy machinery such as skid steer loaders and mini excavators to clear the roads, said James Caldwell, deputy director of public works. Jackson also has three trucks carrying salt and sand to spread across the roads ahead of the freezing weather.
The amount of ice — half an inch, or 1.27 centimeters — that could trigger a crippling ice storm, downing trees and power lines, leading to widespread and long-lasting power outages. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service warns of the possibility of a half-inch of ice or more in many areas, including parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee.
A number of snowplows in Nashville are named after country music legend and Tennessee native Dolly Parton (Dolly Pluton). Another East Tennessee snowplow has been named Snowlene after her classic hit song “Jolene” as part of a 2022 naming contest.
The number of layers needed to keep warm in extreme cold. Mark VanCleave, an AP video journalist in Minnesota, explains the benefits of all three — base layer, middle layer, and outer shell — In this video.
Number of major U.S. airports in the path of the southern storm this weekend, when ice, sleet and snow could delay passengers and cargo: Dallas-Fort Worth; atlanta; Memphis, Tennessee, and Charlotte, North Carolina. More major airports on the East Coast could still see delays later, as the storm moves east.
How many inches of snow could fall in parts of Oklahoma.
“You have to be very weather aware and very smart about what you’re doing,” said Charles Daniel, who drives a semi-trailer truck across western Oklahoma.
“One mistake can kill someone, so you have to use your brain,” he added.
Number of snow and ice removal trucks operated by the Memphis, Tennessee Department of Public Works. The city also has six trucks to spread saltwater, a mixture designed to melt winter precipitation. Statewide, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has 851 salt trucks and 634 salt trucks, with most of the salt trucks operating as plows.
Parts of at least 19 states in the storm’s path were under a winter storm watch by late Wednesday, with more watches and warnings expected as the system approaches. They include Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. An estimated 55 million people are included in winter storm watches, the weather service said.
The degree in Fahrenheit when water freezes is equivalent to 0 degrees Celsius. That’s a magic number when it comes to winter weather, said Eric Guillot, a scientist with the National Weather Service. If the temperature is slightly above 32, most of it will be liquid. But the colder it is below the mark, the more efficient the precipitation will be.
Number of snow removal trucks ready in Nashville, Tennessee, according to the Nashville Department of Transportation and Intermodal Infrastructure.
The wind chill value — how cold a person feels when winds are taken into account — is expected in parts of the northern Plains, the Weather Service projects. This equates to minus 45.6 degrees Celsius and is expected to reach parts of northern Minnesota and North Dakota.
“When the weather forecast says, ‘Looks like minus 34,’ it’s just a matter of covering up and being prepared,” said Nils Anderson, who owns Duluth Gear Exchange, an outdoor gear store in Duluth, Minn.
The number of snowplows in Chicago, where the average annual snowfall is 37 to 39 inches (0.94 to 0.99 m). The city also has 40 SUVs and about a dozen trucks to distribute beet juice, according to Cole Stallard, Chicago’s streets and sanitation commissioner. The natural sugars in beet juice lower the freezing point of water, allowing salt mixtures to operate at much lower temperatures and prevent refreezing, while also helping the salt stick to the road longer.
Number of miles added last year to snow removal roads in Nashville, Tennessee. Alex Apple, a spokesman for Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, said it was done “to delve deeper into our neighborhoods — roads that have never been plowed before.”
Texas has that much winter weather equipment, including snow plows, graders and salt water tankers, said Adam Hammons, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation. He said the agency is also working with state partners and contractors to obtain more equipment when needed. In the Dallas area, “our main focus right now is to treat our roads ahead of the storm,” agency spokesman Tony Hartzell said Wednesday.
Number of cubic yards of salt available at the Arkansas Department of Transportation. The state has 121 salt houses throughout Arkansas, as well as 600 salt spreaders and 700 snowplows, said Dave Parker, a spokesman for the agency.
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Associated Press writers Jamie Stengel in Dallas; Sophie Bates in Jackson, Mississippi; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Travis Lawler and Christine M. Hall in Nashville, Tennessee; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois; Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed.