A stream of cold air is expected to dump at least 12 inches across an area stretching from Michigan to central New England and put more than 16 million Americans on winter storm watch, forecasters said today.
The storm, which already dumped snow from Iowa to Kansas this morning, is expected to strengthen as it moves east, said meteorologist Rich Otto of the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.
The severe weather, which will affect the central Great Plains, Midwest and Northeast, is expected to peak Monday night into Tuesday.
“Good if you like snow”
“It’s a first picture of winter and I guess it’s good if you like snow,” Otto said.
At the same time, residents in Washington, Philadelphia and Boston are expected to face rain and sleet, according to him.
The new wave of bad weather follows a storm that “whitewashed” parts of the country, causing traffic problems in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and parts of the Midwest, the forecaster noted.
Carpool of 50 vehicles
Indiana State Police reported on social media that icy roads and low visibility killed 50 vehicles on Interstate 70 in Terre Haute on Saturday. In Chicago, the amount of snow reached 25 cm over the weekend.
For his part, Brandon Buckingham, a meteorologist with the private weather service Accuweather, warned travelers that road conditions will worsen Monday through Tuesday night.
“Snow equals transportation problems,” he stressed.
