Winter storm warnings remain in place from Louisiana up through Virginia, with winter weather advisories stretching even further as heavy snow hits the U.S. Southeast.
Why It Matters
Millions of people are facing frigid temperatures through this week. Subzero wind chills hit the U.S. over the weekend and early this week, although most extreme cold warnings have expired as of Tuesday evening.
Winter storms also hit the Southeast U.S, stretching from Texas up through part of the Eastern Seaboard. One National Weather Service (NWS) office in Louisiana issued its first ever blizzard warning, and a curfew was established in parts of Louisiana to keep people indoors through the worst of the storm.
What to Know
More snow is likely to move through the U.S. Southeast later today and through Wednesday. The storm impacting the southern U.S. has prompted officials to issue winter storm warnings in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. There are also winter storm warnings in place in Michigan, Montana and Alaska.
Winter storm warnings will end for Louisiana and Mississippi at some point on Tuesday. The warnings will persist until Wednesday for Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
Snow depth
According to animated weather footage from Windy.com, snow accumulated from east Texas east through Virginia.
In Louisiana, NWS meteorologist Stacey Denson told Newsweek that in some parts of the Lake Charles forecast region, people recorded as much as six inches of snow.
The last time the area saw accumulating snowfall was in December 2017, when two inches of snow fell.
Snowfall was so heavy that snowplows journeyed to Louisiana from Arkansas to assist in clearing the roads.
New snow
More snow is still expected over the next three days, with widespread amounts anywhere from one to six inches falling across the southeast.
Wind speed
Strong winds contributed to blowing snow in Louisiana on Tuesday morning, prompting the blizzard warning from the Lake Charles office. Winds associated with the winter storm trekking through the Southeast are still being felt along the coast. Wind gusts are around 30 mph.
Temperature
In addition to the unprecedented snow, the Southeast also faced brutally cold temperatures that dipped into single digit territory when coupled with wind chill. An extreme cold warning is still in place for eastern Texas and western Louisiana.
However, NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Frank Pereira told Newsweek that a warming trend will bring more average temperatures to much of the central U.S. later this week.
What People Are Saying
NWS office in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a winter storm warning: "Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat."
NWS office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in an extreme cold warning: "Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes."
What Happens Next
According to an eight- to 14-day temperature outlook published by the NWS Climate Prediction Center, temperatures will begin to creep back up until they are above-normal across much of the U.S.
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