Scary Winter Storm Warning Issued in Several Parts of the US; Here’s What You Need To Do To Keep Warm Even Without Power
Winter storm warning was issued in several areas of the U.S.
According to Weather Prediction Center, severe weather and blizzard conditions are on the way for most of the central United States, thanks to a powerful storm system.
Midweek, the Southeast, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and the Southern Plains could see flash flooding and severe weather.
Heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and freezing rain are on the way for the northern and central Plains.
A deep, upper-level trough will move steadily to the east across the Western United States.
Upper-level heights continue to fall in front of the approaching trough, which will cause intense cyclogenesis in the lee of the Rockies because of a strong, embedded vort max ejecting across the High Plains.
This week's expanding storm system will bring widespread and severe weather dangers to the central United States.
Northern Plains Are in the Path of a Snowstorm That Has Prompted Blizzard Warnings
AccuWeather predicts that residents in the northern Plains will get over a foot of snow, high winds, and blizzard conditions beginning this week.
The storm will shift direction again later in the week, bringing the threat of significant snowfall to parts of the Midwest.
The storm system that will bring this impending snow to the West Coast slammed ashore in the Pacific states over the previous weekend, dumping heavy rain on coastal California and heavy snow on various interior parts of the Intermountain West.
According to experts, this system will migrate eastward over the Plains late Monday and into Tuesday, following the usual storm pattern.
Western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, western South Dakota, southeastern Montana, and eastern Wyoming were all included in the blizzard warning authorities issued on Monday.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for much of the northern Plains and winter storm watches for parts of the Upper Midwest.
Expert weather forecaster at AccuWeather, Thomas Geiger, has predicted that low pressure would form over Colorado and Kansas on Monday night. This will cause humid air from the Gulf of Mexico to move north, meeting with arctic air from Canada.
These two factors increase the likelihood of a significant snowstorm from Colorado to Minnesota by midweek.
The southern United States will be at risk for severe weather from the same storm into midweek.
Some areas may appear too warm at the start of the storm to sustain considerable snowfall. However, colder air will be drawn in because of the storm's intensity, leading to temperatures well below freezing.
On Tuesday, when heavy snowfall begins, temperatures will remain in the mid-20s to low-30s Fahrenheit.
Snowfall rates could approach several inches per hour in the hardest-hit locations between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
How To Keep Warm During Winter Storm
Winter storm warning comes with power outages. Without an electric heat source, your body heat could be the most reliable source of warmth if the electricity were to go out.
The loss of body heat can be reduced by wearing extra clothing, blankets, and head and hand coverings.
The University of Wisconsin-Extension said that the bed could be the warmest spot in the house. Increasing the number of coverings used is an efficient way to keep children warm.
If quilts are not enough to keep you warm, thin, heat-reflective plastic sheets can be an excellent backup.
Sleeping bags are also a great option because they are designed to keep you warm in the cold and can be secured around your body, but do not overdo it.
American Red Cross recommends layering lightweight, loose-fitting garments as one of the best ways on how to keep warm during winter storm. Doing so works better than relying on one bulky sweater.
Take off some clothing if you start to sweat excessively and put it back on if you get cold.
Extreme cold can cause both hypothermia and frostbite if left untreated for too long. Those without proper clothing, heating, or blood circulation are at the most risk, per Politifact.
When exposed to cold temperatures, hypothermia can cause symptoms such as shivering, fatigue, confusion, memory loss, and slurred speech, while frostbite causes an area of skin to turn red and painful before going numb and white or grayish-yellow.
Call 911 immediately if you or a family member exhibits symptoms of either of these illnesses.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Powerful winter storm hitting western U.S. before moving east - From CBS Evening News
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