US weather forecast: Snow, surge of arctic air threaten 95 million people

A substantial surge of arctic air, riding the jet stream, has tightly gripped a broad expanse of the nation on Monday, causing temperatures to plunge 20 to 40 degrees below the usual norms for the dead of winter.

Across the US, millions of Americans are grappling with the harsh grip of this arctic air, descending from Canada, ushering in frigid temperatures well below zero. The prevalent weather conditions pose significant dangers and potential life-threatening situations amid this intense winter weather.

An estimated 95 million people were under weather warnings or advisories for wind chills below zero F (minus 17 C), according to the weather service. Forecasters said the severe cold push as far south as northern Texas.


The National Weather Service warned that windy, subfreezing conditions in Montana and the Dakotas could push wind chills as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56 degrees Celsius).

Officials warned people to say off the roads in Buffalo, New York, where snowfall of 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters) was forecast. The severe storm forced the postponement of the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game from Sunday to Monday. Wind gusts as high as 50 mph (80 kph) were also possible, said Zack Taylor, a National Weather Service meteorologist in College Park, Maryland.

FAQs:

Q1. What is weather forecast for New York?
A1. Officials warned people to say off the roads in Buffalo, New York, where snowfall of 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 meters) was forecast. The severe storm forced the postponement of the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game from Sunday to Monday.

Q2. What will be minimum temperature?
A2. The National Weather Service warned that windy, subfreezing conditions in Montana and the Dakotas could push wind chills as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56 degrees Celsius).