Nearly 900,000 Without Power As Winter Storms Continue Across U.S.

Topline

Winter storms bringing snow and freezing cold temperatures are expected to continue across the Midwest and California on Thursday, causing widespread power outages—while areas of the Northeast will experience unseasonably warm weather.

Key Facts

Winter storm warnings are in effect across the Midwest in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Dakota, as well as in New York and across New England and in western states like California, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and northern Arizona, according to the National Weather Service Thursday.

The NWS predicts the winter storm, known as Winter Storm Olive, will bring heavy snow, freezing temperatures and ice to the Great Plains region and parts of the West, with snow rates in some areas as high as one to two inches per hour and snowfall totals of between six and 12 inches in some areas, or even as high as 18 inches.

A separate winter storm in the West is expected to become more concentrated over California on Thursday and Friday, the NWS projects, where mountainous areas could see between three and five feet of snowfall while lower elevation areas experience heavy rainfall.

Widespread impacts are expected to continue from the ongoing winter weather, with PowerOutage.us showing nearly 900,000 households were without power as of 6 a.m. ET across California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and New York, and FlightAware reporting 742 cancellations on U.S. flights so far Thursday following thousands of cancellations and delays on Wednesday.

Multiple areas could break records with their winter storms: Minneapolis, which is expected to get more than an additional foot of snow Thursday, may experience one of the highest snowfalls in state history, while southern California saw its first blizzard warning since 1989.

Temperatures across the upper Midwest and Great Plains may be up to 40 degrees below average through Thursday, the NWS projects, falling below zero degrees Fahrenheit in many areas.

Contra

Other parts of the U.S. are experiencing historic heat waves, an extreme contrast from the cold weather traveling through other regions. Washington, D.C., is forecast to get up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, which the BBC notes would be the highest temperature seen at this time of year since 1874, after Nashville broke a 127-year old record when it hit 80 degrees on Wednesday and Atlanta had its warmest February day of all time, among other records in cities like Indianapolis, Orlando, Florida, and Lexington, Kentucky.

What To Watch For

The snow is expected to clear up after Thursday in hard-hit areas like Minnesota and South Dakota that are now under blizzard warnings, the NWS projects, though the bitterly cold temperatures will go on longer. California is expected to see its extreme weather continue through the end of the week, with the NWS noting flash flooding is possible across southern California from Friday into Saturday.

Key Background

The weather patterns this week are indicative of a broader trend this winter in which areas of the U.S. have experienced both extreme cold and heat. Historic blizzards have hit areas like upstate New York, while Texas, Seattle and other areas experienced widespread ice storms and plunging temperatures. The New York City area set a record for its longest winter stretch without any snow at all, meanwhile, as areas across the Northeast have seen little to no snow this winter including cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. “All winter, we’ve seen this persistent pattern, where the western U.S. is seeing below-average temperatures and the eastern U.S. is seeing above-average temperatures,” Columbia University climate scientist Andrew Kruczkiewicz told BBC News.

Further Reading

1,000+ Flights Canceled As Winter Storm Olive Pummels U.S. (Forbes)

Blizzard Warning hits Southern California for the first time in decades (CBS News)

DC’s Thursday high is forecast at 80, but NY’s is 49: Here’s why (The Hill)

Cross-country winter storm could dump historic snow on Minneapolis similar to what collapsed Metrodome’s roof (Fox Weather)

Short Range Public Discussion – February 23, 2023 (National Weather Service)