Sunset in a snowy Sidney, Nebraska
With the start of Hanukkah just one day away and Christmas Eve one week out, much of the United States is in for a fairly wild ride in terms of weather.
A stubborn ground blizzard that had continued into Friday across the Northern Plains even after snowfall had ended brought relentless high winds that caused visibility to fall to near zero. The blizzard conditions left drifts of the white stuff as high as 9’ (2.75 m).
The warnings were from eastern Montana into much of the Dakotas, northern Nebraska, and the northeastern corner of Wyoming into the weekend.
In the Northeast, a major storm will bombard much of the region with heavy snow and high winds.
Drivers should expect hazardous conditions in many parts of the country as a result of the severe weather and hundreds of flights are being delayed and cancelled on a daily basis.
“We urge everyone in the impacted regions to avoid unnecessary travel tonight and tomorrow,“ Hochul said in a Thursday statement. “Work from home if possible, stay off the roads, and make sure you and your loved ones remain vigilant.“
In New England, tens of thousands of people were still without power Saturday morning as a result of the storm. Over 150,000 customers are without electricity in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. In Massachusetts, power has mostly been restored and, as of 11 a.m., approximately 1,800 homes were without power.
But the worst is yet to come.
Another weather system is expected to move across the country that will bring dangerously cold conditions. In many places, temperatures will be 30 to 40 degrees colder than normal for this time of year. Temperatures in the Midwest could fall to a low of -20° F (-29° C) and New York City will see a low of 16° F (-9° C) on Christmas Eve that is preceded by a high of 57° F (14° C) on Friday.
The weather outlook is somewhat better for the European continent. Munich will see showers and a high of 52° F (11° C) on Friday and temperatures in the high 40s on Christmas Eve and Christmas, while Vienna will enjoy a high of 51° (10.5° C) on Christmas Eve and 46° F (7° C), with showers in the forecast.
Paris will enjoy unseasonably warm albeit wet weather all week with a high of 57° F (14° C) on Friday and the outlook for Brussels is similar, with a high of 54° F (12° C) on Friday.
Further to the south, Madrid will also see seasonable temperatures with a high of 56° F (13° C) on Christmas Day, while will enjoy temperatures in the 60s with a high of 62° F (17° C) on Friday and Christmas Day, which is Sunday.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
