Officials are bracing for a dreadful mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain that is forecast to hit from Kansas to Virginia this weekend.
About a dozen states from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic were braced on Saturday for “significant wintry weather” that would be accompanied by Arctic cold, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
A winter storm is expected to bring a nasty mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain that is likely to disrupt travel and daily life with road closures, flight delays and power outages beginning Saturday and lasting through Monday.
Some places may get their heaviest snowfall in a decade or more, forecasters said early Saturday as widespread winter storm warnings took effect.
The National Weather Service issued a smattering of winter watches, advisories and warnings for regions, stretching from eastern Colorado to New Jersey.
“It’s going to be a very impactful storm affecting a pretty huge area of the country,” said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.
As the storm moves on, Arctic air is predicted to settle in its wake, as some of the most frigid temperatures of the season are expected to linger for days.
