A massive winter storm is poised to bring record-breaking cold and hazardous conditions to much of the United States, with over 170 million people under winter weather alerts. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that dangerously low temperatures and wind chills could reach as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the Northern Plains, potentially causing widespread power outages and travel chaos.
The Scope of the Threat
The storm will impact an enormous geographic area, stretching from the Southern Rockies to New England. Forecasters anticipate heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, with particularly severe ice accumulation expected in some regions. This ice buildup poses a significant threat to infrastructure, potentially downing power lines and making roads impassable. The 2021 Texas cold snap serves as a stark reminder of how easily winter storms can overwhelm unprepared systems, leaving millions without heat.
Why This Storm Is Different
This event is unusual in its scale and complexity. It is driven by a rare collision between frigid Arctic air – which typically remains contained by the jet stream – and a moisture-rich weather system from the Pacific Ocean. A weakening jet stream, caused by the disproportionate warming of the Arctic, has allowed this cold air to plunge further south than usual.
The jet stream acts as a natural barrier, keeping the arctic air contained. But a large high-pressure system has weakened it, allowing the frigid air to penetrate further south.
The combination of wet and cold conditions creates a cascade of hazards, including snow and freezing rain.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather
While it is too early to definitively link this specific storm to climate change, rising global temperatures are exacerbating extreme weather events. Warmer temperatures mean the atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier precipitation. The rapid warming of the Arctic is destabilizing the jet stream, making extreme cold snaps more frequent and unpredictable.
“Climate change is an increase in the baseline temperatures, but it’s also an increase in extremes from both ways,” explains Kaitlyn Trudeau, a senior research associate at Climate Central. “It can make more extreme cold outcomes; it can make more extreme warm outcomes.”
The Future of Forecasting
Scientists are actively studying this storm to improve forecasting models. Researchers, including those at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, plan to fly directly into the storm aboard a NASA aircraft to gather data on water vapor, temperature, and other critical factors. Understanding how these systems merge is key to more accurate predictions.
The uncertainty surrounding this event underscores the need for better monitoring and modeling of extreme weather patterns in a changing climate.
This historic storm highlights the growing vulnerability of infrastructure and communities to extreme weather, regardless of warming or cooling trends. Preparedness, local forecasts, and scientific monitoring are now more critical than ever.
