Catastrophic ice: Crippling ice accumulations will weigh down and drop power lines and trees in parts of the South not used to winter weather. Hundreds of thousands could lose power, some for days.
Record cold: More than half of all Americans will experience subzero wind chills in the next week. The extreme cold will lock snow and ice in place and leave those without power shivering for days.
Travel nightmare: Over 9,000 flights are canceled ahead of the storm, a staggering amount. Travel will be difficult to impossible on roads across the storm’s footprint.
Snow and ice are falling across Arkansas this morning, creating slick roads across the entire state.
At least 16 states have declared a state of emergency to help free up and mobilize resources to respond to and prepare for the storm as of early Saturday.
The list includes Delaware, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey and Kansas.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a statewide disaster emergency proclamation to activate response efforts.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also announced a disaster declaration covering 134 counties to similarly mobilize resources.
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser also declared a state of emergency for the nation’s capital on Friday.
