Forecast
Much of the central and eastern U.S. will have just started their recovery from one storm when the next moves in, bringing a renewed threat of power outages and hazardous travel.
Another round of significant snow and ice will fall along a similar, 2,000-mile-long track from Texas to Maine during the middle and latter part of this week.
Accumulating snow will fall across much of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region on Wednesday, spreading into New England by Thursday. Even where an inch or less of snow falls, added dangers may lurk due to the back-to-back nature of the storms, with new snow will falling on top of the existing snow and ice, increasing the risk of slip-and-fall injuries.
On the southern edge of the storm, freezing rain is expected, with ice accumulation amounts of 0.25 -0.50 inch possible. For many locations, this will be a repeat event, very similar to what occurred over the weekend or during the first part of the week, further complicating power restoration efforts underway.
Impacts
Expect ground logistics disruption due to road closures, downed trees, and power outages especially along portions of the following Interstates: 68, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 88, 90, 91, 95 and 99. Motorists are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel until the storm has passed, as road crews will be kept busy cleaning up from the storm.
An extended period of power outages could severely disrupt business operations across a variety of industries. Organizations should make sure generators are in working condition and able to run for at least a few days. Remote employees may not have internet access or limited connectivity due to outages or blackouts, so redundancies should be in place for any critical functions.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities are likely to see an increase in patients this week, taxing an already overburdened system coping with COVID-19 patients. Everything from frostbite, to heart attacks while shoveling snow, to injuries sustained in a vehicle accident on slick roads can send someone to the emergency room.
Protect yourself and your organization by being well-prepared for the worst winter has to offer with SkyGuard. We can keep you informed, up-to-date and ready to handle snow, freezing rain, and power outages.
- Two rounds of snow and ice to have long lasting impacts on transportation and commerce across much of the central and eastern U.S.
- Widespread and long-term power outages caused by extreme cold and ice could create life-threatening conditions
- First responders and utility companies likely to be overwhelmed due to extent of snow and ice, and repeated impacts across similar regions
- Be prepared for extended power outages and ensure your organization is able to function under minimally available power and with limited communication
