Tens of millions of Americans have been put under weather warnings as deadly winds head for the West Coast and an Arctic blast freezes the East.
Officials have warned residents in Southern California to brace for Santa Ana winds of up to 100mph that could increase the risk of wildfires and power outages.
Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura and San Bernardino counties can expect 50 to 70mph gusts, with wind gusts up to 100mph possible.
‘This will be a dangerous and potentially destructive windstorm from the Santa Monica mountains to Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills and Malibu,’ AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said.
AccuWeather meteorologists expect the winds to die down on Thursday as the storm driving them moves away from Southern California and evolves into a cross-country winter storm later in the week.
‘As the storm emerges in the South Central states late in the week, it will merge with the cold air in the Plains, producing wintery weather across the region,’ AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. The storm’s path may extend as far east as Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York City this weekend, delivering snow and disrupting travel.
Meanwhile, the eastern half of the US has also been told to brace for bitterly cold temperatures that will linger over the course of next week, as waves of Arctic air surge as far south as the Gulf Coast.
Temperatures could plunge up to 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below average from the northern Plains and Midwest to the interior Southeast through the first two weeks of January, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus said.
As of Tuesday, the arctic blast had killed at least six people, including one victim who was found frozen to death at a bus stop in Houston, Texas. And more than 200,000 customers are still without power in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
Southern California is bracing for a major Santa Ana wind event on Tuesday that will blast the region high-speed winds, increase wildfire risk and may trigger outages
The winds to die down on Thursday as the storm driving them moves away from Southern California and evolves into a cross-country winter storm later in the week
In Southern California, gusty winds could bring down tree limbs and power lines, and utility crews will conduct public safety power shut offs to minimize the risk of downed lines that can spark a wildfire, adding to the total number of outages.
The windstorm could also damage poorly constructed structures, and transportation — especially on major interstates — could be impacted by ‘dangerous’ crosswinds.
The region’s major airports, such as Los Angeles International (LAX) may also experience delays.
Downtown Los Angeles and San Diego will be spared from the strongest winds, but could still experience over 30mph gusts Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The Santa Ana winds, also known as the ‘devil winds,’ are extremely dry, high-speed winds that periodically blow from the inland mountains to the coast in Southern California, peeking over a 12 to 24 hour period.
They originate from high-pressure air masses in the Great Basin that push cooler air down toward this part of the Golden State.
This weather phenomenon typically takes place in October, but can occur at any time of year if the right conditions arise.
These winds significantly increase the risk of wildfire, as the winds dry out vegetation and increase air temperatures. Once a fire sparks, Santa Ana gusts can help it spread rapidly throughout the region.
This week, an area of high pressure in the Great Basin has combined with a developing storm in northwestern Mexico to create Tuesday’s windstorm, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Gwen Fieweger.
The eastern half of the US has also been told to brace for bitterly cold temperatures that will linger over the course of next week, as waves of Arctic air surge as far south as the Gulf Coast
The Santa Ana winds, also known as the ‘devil winds,’ are extremely dry, high-speed winds that periodically blow from the inland mountains to the coast in Southern California
This week, an area of high pressure in the Great Basin has combined with a developing storm in northwestern Mexico to create Tuesday’s windstorm
Unlike a typical Santa Ana event, strong winds could extend through areas along the Southern California coast that are usually wind-protected.
By Thursday, the same storm that will produce the Santa Ana winds is expected to track east and become a cross-country winter storm.
This will spread ‘heavy and disruptive’ snow and ice from western, central, and northern Texas, eastward along the interstates 20 and 40 corridors of the south-central US, including Dallas, AccuWeather reported.
Nashville could also receive snow, and an icy mix may impact Atlanta and Charlotte, affecting major airport hubs in the Southeast and likely triggering flight delays and cancellations.
Meanwhile, a blast of Arctic air is also heading for the eastern half of the US, AccuWeather meteorologists warned.
Through January 12, the cold will send temperatures plummeting to at least 12 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit below average across much of the central and eastern US.
The Gulf Coast and Southeast will begin to see below-freezing overnight lows this week. These temperatures could stretch almost as far south as Miami
Some areas could also see more rounds of snow, ice and gusty winds, especially in the Great Lakes and Northeast regions which could receive lake-effect snow
The Gulf Coast and Southeast will begin to see below-freezing overnight lows this week. These temperatures could stretch almost as far south as Miami.
Central states will drop into the teens and even below-zero overnight temperatures this week, making frostbite a serious concern.
‘Anyone who must venture outdoors for a period of time is strongly urged to cover exposed skin,’ AccuWeather stated.
Some areas could also see more rounds of snow, ice and gusty winds, especially in the Great Lakes and Northeast regions which could receive lake-effect snow.
This surge of winter weather will come on the heels of Winter Storm Blair, which has brought record-breaking snowfall, icing, high-winds and deadly travel conditions to the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic this week.
