The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) has announced that a massive storm will impact 48 states with winter weather, severe thunderstorms, and low temperatures lasting for several days, affecting 75 million people.
The agency warned of significant weather hazards, with states experiencing notably extreme temperatures. According to alerts issued by some states, California will see rain and snow, while some states will experience a "rare event" involving snowfall at lower elevations.
The report indicates that a frigid Arctic air mass from Canada is moving south, leading to a drop in temperatures in Montana and Wyoming, with cold weather expected to settle in California for an extended period. The National Weather Service predicts snowfall of up to 60 centimeters and wind speeds reaching 97 km/h in some areas on Wednesday and Thursday.
The arrival of the storm has caused power outages in California, closed interstate highways from Arizona to Wyoming, and resulted in the cancellation of over 1,500 flights. The U.S. Department of Transportation stated that "the significant winter storm will lead to closures for several days on highways and secondary roads across Wyoming."
Strong winds have caused major issues in California, downing trees and power lines, leading to power outages for 88,000 customers in the state.
