New Jersey has declared a state of emergency ahead of a massive winter storm bringing dangerously cold temperatures and significant snowfall.
Newark: A big winter storm is on its way, and it’s expected to hit the Northeast hard. The Interstate 95 corridor is bracing for some serious snow.
Forecasters say we could see 1-3 inches of snow starting Sunday evening, stretching from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Areas north and west of I-95 might get 5-8 inches.
With the snow and frigid air, New Jersey’s governor has declared a state of emergency. He’s warning folks to prepare for wind chills that could drop below zero.
“After the snow, we’re looking at extreme cold with wind chills hitting -10° or lower. Stay indoors as much as you can, and keep your pets inside,” Gov. Phil Murphy advised.
Since Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, schools and banks will be closed, which should help keep the roads clear for snow removal.
More than 30 million people from the Appalachians to the Northeast are under winter weather alerts, including major cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
This storm could bring the biggest snow totals of the season, especially since many areas have been lagging behind in snowfall.
New Jersey is taking precautions, urging residents to limit outdoor activities due to the extreme cold. Philadelphia is about 5 inches below its normal snowfall, while New York City is nearly half a foot behind.
Even Washington, D.C. is in the mix, expecting 1-3 inches of snow just before the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday.
Due to the cold, most inaugural events will be held indoors, which is a change from tradition. Organizers had been preparing for outdoor festivities for months.
On Monday, temperatures will be in the mid-20s but will drop to near zero by Wednesday as a blast of Arctic air settles in.
Overall, over 300 million people will experience below-average temperatures as this cold snap sweeps across the eastern U.S.
To combat the risk of hypothermia, many communities from the U.S.-Canadian border down to Florida are opening warming centers for those in need of shelter.
