Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs A major winter cold front will hit northern US states bringing “intense” snow squalls with it, the National Weather Service has warned.An Arctic cold front will brings “intense snow squalls, strong winds, followed by heavy lake-effect snow through Thursday”, said the NWS Prediction Center said on Wednesday morning,Forecasters told people to expect “dangerous travel, whiteouts, power outages, and hazardous commutes across the Great Lakes, central Appalachians, and Northeast.”Snow squalls are short and intense periods of snowfall that usually last less than an hour. Lake effect snow, common in the Great Lakes area, occurs when cold air moves across the relatively warm open waters of the lake, resulting in clouds and heavy snow bands forming down wind from the lake.
People walk through the snowstorm in Lawrence, Massachusetts on January 7, 2024. The National Weather Service has warned of a winter storm with intense snow is due to hit the U.S.
People walk through the snowstorm in Lawrence, Massachusetts on January 7, 2024. The National Weather Service has warned of a winter storm with intense snow is due to hit the U.S.
JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images
This cold front is expected to last Wednesday through Thursday and will impact 18 states.The Arctic front will begin over the Great Lakes today and sweep into New England by Thursday morning.Those states affected are North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and small parts of northern New Jersey.
In the briefing, the NWS warned of intense snow squalls that will likely cause whiteout visibility and rapidly worsening road conditions.There will also be heavy dumps of snow across the central Appalachians and interior New England over today and tomorrow. In the lake-effect snow belt, heavy snowfalls of one to two feet are also expected.The cold front is also due to bring “widespread strong winds.””Wind gusts up to 50 mph will spread from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes today and reach the Central Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Thursday,” the NWS says. “Blizzard conditions may develop in lake-effect snow belts and the Central Appalachians, creating treacherous travel.”An Arctic cold front will bring intense snow squalls, strong winds, followed by heavy lake-effect snow through Thursday. Expect dangerous travel, whiteouts, power outages, and hazardous commutes across the Great Lakes, central Appalachians, and Northeast. pic.twitter.com/0mfyJNt3si— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 4, 2024
There is also a risk that gusty winds may down tree branches and cause power outages.In terms of the potential for heavy travel impacts, the NWS estimates that Maine is likely to be the worst affected. Other northeast states such as Vermont, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania also have a high probability of experiencing hazardous traveling conditions.Travel in the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Illinois will be the least affected.The NWS warns “There truly is no safe place on the highway during a snow squall.”However, if you are already in transit and cannot exit a road, it is advised to reduce your speed, turn on headlights and hazard lights and ensure there is plenty of distance between yourself and the car in front.Do not slam on the brakes as when driving on icy and slick roads this can result in you losing control of the vehicle.
