A potent winter storm threatened blizzard-like situations, treacherous journey and energy outages in elements of the Higher Midwest as different areas of the nation braced Monday for plunging temperatures, sturdy winds and a mixture of snow, ice, and rain.
The snow and strengthening winds started spreading Sunday throughout the northern Plains, the place the Nationwide Climate Service warned of whiteout situations and attainable blizzard situations that might make journey unattainable in some areas. Snowfall totals had been anticipated to exceed a foot (30 centimeters) throughout elements of the higher Nice Lakes and as a lot as double that alongside the south shore of Lake Superior.
“A part of the storm system is getting heavy snow, different elements of the storm alongside the chilly entrance are getting greater winds and far colder temperatures because the entrance passes,” mentioned Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster on the Nationwide Climate Service workplace in School Park, Maryland. “They’re all associated to one another — totally different elements of the nation can be receiving totally different results from this storm.”
The climate service warned of “harmful wind chills” as little as minus 30 levels Fahrenheit (minus 34.4 levels Celsius) in North Dakota and into Minnesota from Sunday evening into Monday.
Within the South, meteorologists warned extreme thunderstorms are prone to sign the arrival of a pointy chilly entrance — bringing a sudden drop in temperatures and robust north winds that can abruptly finish days of report heat all through that area.
The excessive temperature in Atlanta was round 72 F (22 C) on Sunday, persevering with a warming development after climbing to 78 F (about 26 C) to shatter the town’s report excessive temperature for Christmas Eve, the Nationwide Climate Service mentioned. Quite a few different report excessive temperatures had been seen throughout the South and Midwest on the times after Christmas.
However the incoming chilly entrance was anticipated to drop rain on a lot of the South late Sunday evening into Monday, and an enormous drop in temperatures Tuesday. Forecasters mentioned the low temperature in Atlanta to 25 F (minus 3.9 C) by early Tuesday morning. The colder temperatures within the South are anticipated to persist by New Yr’s Day.
Devon Jordan, of Brainerd , helps an individual begin their automotive durning heavy snowstorm on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 in downtown Minneapolis. Credit score: AP/Jerry Holt
In Dallas, Sunday temperatures within the decrease 80s (higher 20s C) might drop right down to the mid 40s (single digits Celsius). In Little Rock, excessive temperatures of round 70 (21 C) on Sunday might drop right down to highs within the mid-30s on Monday.
“We’re undoubtedly going again in the direction of a extra winter sample,” Oravec mentioned.
The storm is anticipated to accentuate because it strikes east, drawing power from a pointy conflict between frigid air plunging south from Canada and unusually heat air that has lingered throughout the southern United States, in keeping with the Nationwide Climate Service.
