Major winter storm threatens heavy snow, ice and extreme cold across U.S. cities

Forecasters on Saturday morning outlined a major winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, widespread ice and dangerously cold temperatures to many U.S. cities.

The forecasts varied by location: Atlanta and its northern suburbs were described as facing a “high-impact ice storm” with a likely quarter-inch of ice and up to a half-inch possible, risking widespread power outages and difficult-to-impossible travel; Boston could see as much as 21 inches of dry, powdery snow; New York City could get up to a foot; Philadelphia about 10 inches; and Buffalo roughly 10 inches, plus lake-effect snow. Other forecasts included ice accumulations of 0.25 to 0.50 inch for Dallas–Fort Worth and potentially life‑threatening cold there, historic ice expected in Memphis, more than an inch of freezing rain possible in parts of Jackson, Miss., and intense snowfall rates and bitterly cold wind chills in Portland, Maine.

Forecasters warned of major disruptions to travel, extended power outages and dangerous wind chills, and they noted that some details could change as the storm progresses; timing, precipitation type and accumulation ranges differed by city in the morning updates.

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World, Winter Storm, Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia