As a major winter storm moves eastward, more than 350,000 Americans are without power.
Flash freeze is expected in parts of New England. Boston along with other cities in the area are warning residents to be prepared for icy roads and to slow down if necessary.
According to the National Weather Service, New York is experiencing primarily light rains that are continuing to move across the state. However, it is expected to start to clear up tonight. Meteorologists warn that residents need to be vigilant for ice as temperatures drop into the evening.
According to NWS Cleveland, snowfall will taper off in parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania, but temperatures are expected to remain cold through the night. Texas will also experience freezing temperatures overnight, even though some areas have warmed up earlier in day, NWS Fort Worth stated. According to a recent Weather.gov update, there is a hard freeze warning in place in many cities of the state through Saturday morning.
According to Friday’s update, the Weather Service expects record lows in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. However, the storm is expected to move out of the New England coast tonight.
Through the weekend, temperatures will remain cold and windy in the Midwest and East Coast.
According to flight tracking site Fly Aware, more than 3500 flights from the U.S. were cancelled on Friday, with another 3,000 delayed. More than 600 flights were canceled for Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service more snow and ice are expected to fall into Saturday morning. The eastern part of Maine is predicted to be the worst affected with over six inches of snow. New Hampshire, Vermont and parts of New York will also see several inches of snow.
Ice continues to be a problem in many states. In some areas, difficult road conditions will continue into Saturday morning. According to graphics, parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are likely to experience the worst, with ice accumulations ranging from one quarter inch to half an in.
The National Weather Service in New York advised drivers to be aware of “sneaky winter hazards” such as unexpectedly icy roads. This could lead to dangerous situations.
“Don’t risk it. New York Governor: “Stay home if possible today.” Kathy Hochul urged residents Friday.
According to The Associated Press , the storm had knocked out power in more than 350,000 properties from Texas to Ohio. It came on the heels a severe storm that swept the Northeast last week. More than 119,000 Tennessee customers were without power Friday afternoon. This was down from 125,000.ooo earlier in day.
Christopher Blank, Memphis member station WKNO’s news director, said that because of the abundance and size of the trees in Memphis, many were left without power due to the cold. Blank stated that many were “encased” by ice and fell to the strong winds. This is part of a recent trend in which snowy weather has been getting worse in the region in recent years.
Blank stated that “Two years in succession now, people start to wonder if it could be the new norm with climate change.”
The Associated Press reported that Ohio was also hard hit with 85,000 homes and businesses without electricity.
Numerous counties were declared snow emergencies this week. This means that roads and other activities are restricted in these areas. According to WKYC, at least eight additional counties were placed in a snow emergency level 3. All roads are closed for non-emergency traffic.
“No one should be on a roadway unless it’s absolutely necessary to travel,” reads a statement by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, citing “extremely dangerous” conditions. Non-emergency drivers may be arrested.
The sound of heavy snowfall and power outages in Texas recalls last year when massive storms left millions without power for days. Many are still trying to recover . Governor Greg Abbott said that the state’s power grid has been “more resilient and reliable than ever” so far. Greg Abbott stated Friday.