Dallas — Texas and Oklahoma braced for heavy snow and ice that could make roads dangerous on Friday in what forecasters expect to be some of the first effects of a blizzard. A huge winter storm lasts for days Threatens catastrophic damage, widespread power outages, and extreme cold weather across the eastern two-thirds of the United States.
In the Houston area, a utility company had 3,300 employees ready to work in the winter storm, while the Oklahoma Department of Transportation treated highways and freeways with a brine solution. Freezing rain and sleet are also expected in New Mexico early Friday.
The massive one Storm system It is expected to bring a severe ice storm from Texas across parts of the South, potentially about a foot (30 cm) of snow from Oklahoma across Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, and then a final blast of bitterly cold air that could bring wind chills to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 46 degrees Celsius) in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.
Meteorologists warn of the possibility of damage, especially in areas hit by ice Hurricane competition. About 160 million people were under watches or warnings for winter storms or cold weather — and in many places both.
Cold air blowing in from Canada caused public schools in Chicago and Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa to be canceled Friday. Wind temperatures are expected to reach 35 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 37 degrees Celsius) and can cause frostbite within 10 minutes, making walking to school or waiting for the bus extremely dangerous.
The coming cold snap means it will take some time to thaw, a particularly dangerous prospect in places where ice and snow weigh down tree branches and power lines and knock out power, perhaps for several days. Roads and sidewalks could remain icy until next week.
Snow can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping, especially in inclement weather.
Temperatures are expected to drop to freezing all the way to Florida, meteorologists said.
Severe Cold snap Five years ago it removed a lot of Texas power gridleaving Millions Without electricity for several days, hundreds were killed. Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday it wouldn’t happen again, saying the energy system “has never been stronger.”
Winter storms can be difficult to predict, as forecasters say it’s not possible to determine which places will experience the worst weather until the event begins.
The governors of Georgia and Mississippi declared states of emergency.
In Huntsville, Alabama, employees of Jomo’s Power Equipment, Parts & Service Inc. sold Dozens of generators in about one day and requested an emergency shipment to meet customer demand.
“I would say 95% of the calls were about generators or a service or ‘Do you have any generators in stock?’” Brian Hill, store manager, said Thursday.
Lindsay Sylvester in Toney, Alabama, stocked up on bread and other supplies in her home early in the week and sent her son, who is in college, bread, gloves, candles and hand warmers.
Sylvester said she went to the store early in the week because she knew supplies would run out near the weekend.
“I heard some people talking about them going to Walmart and there was no milk and no bread,” she said. “All the necessities are gone.”
As a precaution, North Carolina’s largest public school system has prepared for several days outside of classes next week, asking its teachers to create assignments for three days that can be accessed online or through paper copies.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger asked residents to prepare for days without power or the ability to leave their neighborhoods. Referring to the politics of the time, the newly inaugurated Democrat said people should not be afraid to call 911 in an emergency just because of the anti-immigration crackdowns underway in the country. Places like Minnesota.
Arkansas Department of Transportation spokesman Dave Parker implored people to be patient and stay home if possible once the storm hits.
By Thursday, airlines had canceled hundreds of flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday, including airports in Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In a crowded grocery store near downtown Dallas, Kennedy Mallard and Frank Green loaded two shopping carts full of supplies into their car. They said there were some bare shelves inside.
“No water, no eggs, no butter, no ground beef,” Green said.
___
Mignin reported from Atlanta and Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press writers across the country contributed to this report.