A severe Arctic storm is poised to sweep across the United States, bringing temperatures cold enough to cause frostbite within just five minutes.
Forecasters have warned that the extreme weather system will dump snow and ice on at least 30 states.
Close to 160 million Americans face dangerous conditions as the blast moves through the country.
The National Weather Service has described the incoming cold air as “life-threatening.”
The agency said the frigid conditions would spread from the Northern and Central Plains into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region from Thursday, before extending into southern areas during the evening hours.
Wind chill values could plummet to between -46C and -48C across the Northern Plains, with sub-zero readings extending as far southeast as the Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains.
Such extreme wind chills are seldom recorded outside Alaska.
“These wind chills will pose a life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite to exposed skin,” the National Weather Service warned.
PICTURED: Tractors clear mountains of snow outside the White House in January 2016
|
GETTY
In the most severely affected regions, exposed skin could suffer frostbite in as little as five minutes.
Residents have been advised that lengthy power cuts and significant damage are possible.
Pet owners have also been urged to ensure their animals are adequately sheltered from the dangerous cold.
Snowfall totals of 10 to 20 inches are anticipated across a broad area stretching from the southwest through to New England.
EXTREME WEATHER – READ MORE:
National Weather Service graphics show areas with a chance of at snow and ice impacts from Friday through Monday – with Washington DC right in the thick of it
|
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
A buildup of ice poses the greatest threat along a corridor running from northern Texas through southern Oklahoma and Arkansas.
The hazardous icy conditions are expected to extend through northern Mississippi and Tennessee before reaching the Carolinas and southern Virginia.
The National Weather Service has cautioned that travel could become “dangerous or impassable” in affected areas.
Airport authorities in several major cities have warned passengers to prepare for substantial disruptions to services, while transport officials across the country are bracing for widespread delays and cancellations.
Pet owners have also been urged to ensure their animals are adequately sheltered from the dangerous cold
|
GETTY
The scale of this storm sets it apart, with its reach spanning multiple states and affecting millions simultaneously.
At its peak on Sunday, more than half of the population of the contiguous United States is forecast to experience snow, sleet or freezing rain at the same time.
Around 225 million people will feel the storm’s effects through Monday, while approximately 123 million face sub-zero temperatures lasting until Tuesday.
Several state governors have declared emergencies, including those in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“Based on current forecasts, the state of Texas is acting to ensure Texans have the resources they need before severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday.
