Powerful Winter Storm Brings Blizzard Conditions, Heavy Snow, and Power Outages to Central Plains and Midwest
A massive winter storm is wreaking havoc on the Central Plains, delivering blizzard conditions and heavy snowfall that stretches from Colorado to Minnesota through Tuesday. The storm is expected to bring widespread power outages and treacherous road conditions in its path.
Impacted Regions Warned of Whiteout Conditions, Power Outages, and Slick Roadways
Blizzard warnings are in effect from northern Colorado to Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota on Monday. The National Weather Service predicts that areas within this region could see between 2-10 inches of snowfall, with some places receiving over a foot. The storm’s impact on these regions is expected to be more significant than the previous winter storms that hit this area.
Travel Disrupted, Power Lines and Trees at Risk of Damage
The storm will move across the Midwest and Great Lakes by Tuesday, shifting to the Northeast where approximately 160,000 homes and businesses remain without power due to snowfall from last week. Travel could become “nearly impossible” in some areas as the storms move through the Plains and Upper Midwest, creating icy roadways and whiteout conditions. Widespread power outages are also a concern as power lines and trees are likely to be damaged by strong winds and accumulations of heavy, wet snow.
New Mexico to Wisconsin: Winter Storm Warnings Issued
Winter storm warnings stretch from New Mexico to Wisconsin and the Dakotas, where snowfall totals of 4-12 inches are possible. Last week, a storm brought substantial snowfall from the northern Plains to the Northeast, causing power outages in various states including Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Record Snowfall in Some Areas, Impact on Power Grid
Some cities have received as much snow as they had all winter from the back-to-back winter storms. The latest storm is expected to have longer-lasting impacts than the previous ones. For instance, about 160,000 homes and businesses were still without power across the Northeast as of late Sunday night due to last week’s storm. Many power lines are grounded in Maine after the storm passed, and restoration efforts in severely impacted coastal areas could last through Wednesday.
Rare Geomagnetic Storm Boosts Aurora Borealis Visibility
Some sky gazers in the northern US may have been fortunate enough to witness the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, overnight Sunday due to a rare geomagnetic storm. A geomagnetic storm is a significant disturbance to the Earth’s outer magnetic field most commonly caused by a strong surge of solar wind from the Sun known as a “coronal mass ejection.” This event increases the likelihood of seeing the Aurora Borealis in parts of the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, Great Lakes, and interior Northeast overnight Sunday.
Potential Interruptions to Radio Frequency and GPS
This geomagnetic storm is particularly severe, rated a level G4 out of 5. Storms of this strength only occur on average 60 days every 11 years, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. The storm could create interruptions here on Earth, including radio frequency blackouts and GPS problems.
