Back-to-back storms have hit the Northwest, delivering a “1-2 punch” of freezing rain, ice, and heavy snow to the region. Winter storm warnings are in effect over the Cascades and northern Rockies as up to 3 feet of snow accumulates through Thursday afternoon. Higher elevation areas in the northern parts of Washington, Idaho, and Montana could see up to 2 feet of snowfall by late Thursday morning.
The storm has affected over 3 million people in the region who were under ice storm warnings early Wednesday, including hard-hit Portland. The South Washington Cascades and surrounding foothills are expected to experience up to an inch of ice, with snowfall up to 7 inches and wind gusts up to 40 mph.
After an Arctic blast brought record-low temperatures and life-threatening wind chills to large portions of the US, temperatures will briefly moderate in most areas on Wednesday before another surge of cold air sets in, according to the weather service.
Wind chill warnings across central and eastern US will expire throughout the day on Wednesday. However, wind chills as low as -25 degrees could still be felt early in the day in cities in the Midwest, including Cincinnati, Detroit, and Chicago.
The central US will finally see high temperatures climb above zero degrees after enduring life-threatening sub-zero wind chills earlier this week. Buffalo, New York, and Watertown, Massachusetts, are currently under lake effect snow warnings until Thursday night, where up to 3 feet of snow could fall. Snowfall reached metro Buffalo on early Wednesday morning and is expected to continue through the evening before oscillating just south of the area and directly impacting the city through Thursday.
In the south, a true warm-up is in store for southern Texas and eastward along the Gulf Coast, with highs returning to the 60s and 70s on Thursday. Despite the warming trend, winter storm warnings remain in effect for areas of the Northwest and mountainous regions as dangerous conditions continue.
