Visibility has dropped to near-zero in Buffalo, New York, as bitterly cold winds fuel an intense band of lake-effect snow. “The core of the lake-effect snow band has now moved into downtown Buffalo,” Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer said as he stood out in the elements. “Prolific lake-effect snow happening here,” he said, adding that it could be “one of the worst blizzards to ever hit the Buffalo area.” Visibility in the city has been below one-quarter of a mile since 8:47 a.m. EST Friday, with Buffalo Niagara International Airport occasionally reporting zero visibility amid heavy snow. If the snow wasn’t enough to deter people from heading outside, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures are 25 degrees below zero and could occasionally dip lower through Friday night.

A pileup involving multiple tractor trailers has forced officials to shut down the Ohio Turnpike near Sandusky, Ohio. Numerous injuries have been reported, but the exact number of injuries is still unknown. Officials spoke with WTVG, a news station based out of Toledo, Ohio, and said that it will take a while to clear the highway and that there are many troopers and first responders at the scene of the crash. It is unclear what caused the pileup, but visibility was limited due to the ongoing bomb cyclone. People involved in the crash and first responders on the scene must battle the elements while assessing the damage. As of 3 p.m. EST Friday, the temperature in Sandusky was 2 degrees below zero with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 44 degrees below zero.

A pileup that occured on the Ohio Turnpike near Sandusky, Ohio, on Friday amid blustery conditions. (Twitter/ @mikewaldron115)

Two electricity providers in Tennessee are asking customers to reduce power usage to ensure the power grid remains stable. MLGW, a utility company for Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, issued a statement saying they will be required to reduce the electrical load by 5 and 10%. “This is necessary to avoid major outages,” the company said in a statement. “Customers are asked to cooperate in reducing power usage during this critical situation.”

The Tennessee Vally Authority, which serves 10 million people in the Tennessee Valley, issued a similar statement. “We are asking businesses and the public to help by immediately reducing electric power use as much as possible without sacrificing safety,” the company said. “It is a necessary step to prevent far greater power interruptions affecting the entire area.”

When the companies issued these statements, the temperatures across Tennessee were in the single digits, including 4 F in Nashville. AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures across the state were as much as 20 degrees lower than the actual temperature, including a RealFeel® Temperature of 25 degrees below zero in Crossville, Tennessee.

Dreaming of a white Christmas? AccuWeather forecasters say that hopes may not be dashed across a large area of the country this year. As of Dec. 23, the area of the United States covered by snow stands at 53.7%. That’s more than any other year on record for the date, since record-keeping began by the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensor in 2003. The deep freeze gripping the eastern two-thirds of the nation into the holiday weekend is likely to keep a lot of that snow in place, and some areas, including locations downwind of the Great Lakes like Buffalo face even more powder — feet of it, in fact, leading up to Christmas.

Powerful winds have downed tree limbs and power lines, knocking out electricity to more than 1.5 million households and businesses. Most of the outages are concentrated in North Carolina, which has about 187,000 without service, and other parts of the South, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us.

Some of the figures as of 1:30 p.m. EST:
• Virginia comes in after North Carolina with more than 145,000 outages.
• Tennessee - 143,000+
• Maine - 114,000+
• New York - 104,000+

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is urging people to stay off the roads and remain indoors as sub-zero air blasts the Bluegrass State. “We have reports of a third fatality on our roads,” Beshear tweeted. “Please stay home and stay safe.” One accident Friday morning shut down Interstate 71 between Verona and Glencoe, Kentucky, located southwest of Cincinnati. Beshear said that some people who were stranded on the highway due to the accident elected to stay in their vehicles, while other motorists were being transported to shelters. As of 12:35 p.m. EST Friday, the warmest spot in the state was Greenville, located in western Kentucky, with a temperature of 2 F, but many locations across the state were experiencing temperatures at or below zero. Frigid winds were making it feel significantly colder with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures as low as 39 degrees below zero.

So far, at least eight people have died as a result of storm-related crashes in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Kansas, according to officials.

A major pileup involving at least nine tractor trailer trucks and other vehicles shut down Interstate 94 in Watervliet, Michigan, Friday morning. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was seriously injured. At least 15 vehicles were involved in the accident just south of Grand Rapids in Berrien County. It was one of many multiple collisions Michigan State Police responded to along I-94 due to icy roads and “sudden white-out conditions,” authorities said. Police also reported several semi-trucks had jack-knifed on Interstate 96 and other highways.

The massive storm responsible for snow and teeth-chattering cold across the interior U.S. is also causing flooding in coastal towns across New England. Onshore wind gusts over 50 mph have been reported across New England, including a gust of 53 mph at a buoy near Portland, Maine. The strong winds are causing water to pile up and inundate areas near the ocean with several streets in Portland under more than a foot of water. The storm is also wreaking havoc farther inland with the State Emergency Operations Center in Augusta, Maine, partially evacuating due to the weather. “If you have to travel, be aware of water and debris on roadways. Remember - Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” emergency officials said.

A delivery truck drives through floodwaters on the Portland, Maine, waterfront during a powerful winter storm, Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Due to high wind, winter storm and blizzard warnings, only essential personnel are allowed on roadways as a travel ban is in effect across all of Erie County and a full commercial vehicle ban is in effect on Interstate 90, the New York State Thruway Authority reported. Also, officials said the Thruway is closed in both direction near Hamburg, located just south of Buffalo, due to an accident involving a camper and a power line. According to county official Mark Poloncarz, power lines are lying across both sides of the thruway due to accidents. Also, the state of New Jersey has issued a travel ban that prohibits all commercial vehicles on Interstates 76, 78, 80, 195, 280, 287, 295 and 676.

Conditions have deteriorated quickly in Buffalo since 8 a.m. EST with the arrival of the Arctic air. Sustained winds are howling over 35 mph with gusts occasionally topping 65 mph at Greater Buffalo International Airport. Intense snow paired with the wind is reducing visibility to around 300 feet, making any form of transportation difficult and dangerous.

The bitter cold accompanying this powerful winter storm broke some long-standing record lows for parts of Montana and Wyoming. Casper, Wyoming, saw its coldest day ever on Thursday as temps plummeted to a bone-chilling 42 degrees F below. It was also a Casper record for Dec. 22, with the old record of 33 below set in 1983. Other areas breaking records Thursday included Riverton, Wyoming, which dropped to 31 degrees below, shattering a 24-year record.

Powerful winds have downed tree limbs and power lines, knocking out electricity to more than 1 million households and businesses. Most of the outages are concentrated in the South, with North Carolina leading with the most without service at about 163,000 as of Friday morning, according to tracking site PowerOutage.us.

Some of the outage figures as of 10 a.m. EST:
• Texas has about 78,000 outages.
• South Carolina – 74,000
• Georgia – 59,000
• Connecticut – 97,000
• Ohio and Pennsylvania – 58,000

As a massive winter storm continues to create treacherous conditions across the country, numerous airports have issued a ground stop and flight cancellations have soared. More than 3,400 flights have been canceled and 1,700 flights have been delayed in the U.S., according to FlightAware. The Denver International Airport, Portland International Airport and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are experiencing a ground stop due to the weather, the National Airspace System reported. MBS International Airport in Michigan, the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport and the Sioux Falls Regional Airport are closed due to inclement weather.

Winter storm forces flight cancellations, delays for holiday travelers

Hundreds of miles of interstate across the Midwest have been ordered closed due to the ferocity of this winter storm. The South Dakota Department of Transportation said Interstate 29 remains closed in both directions from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border. The closure began at 6 p.m. CST Thursday. Gov. Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency in South Dakota due to severe weather and has activated the state National Guard.

Other highways that have closed include:
• Interstate 94 in North Dakota has been shut down in the western part of the state.
• Interstate 90 in Minnesota from Interstate 35 to the South Dakota border.
• Highway 60 in Minnesota closed at 7 p.m. Thursday due to the weather.

Also, some stretches of Ohio’s highways had to be shut down overnight due to several accidents, including when two tractor trailers jack-knifed on Interstate 75 in Hancock County early Friday morning, authorities said. Wisconsin DOT was also noting slippery road conditions and snow-covered highways. Minnesota Highway Patrol warned residents to stay off the roads:

One person was killed in a highway crash in Kentucky Friday morning, bringing the total number of deadly storm-related accidents to at least six nationwide. Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed at least one person has died in a major multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 71 just north of Glencoe. The highway had to be shut down while crews worked to clear the scene. “Please avoid I-71 this morning where we have a major backup. Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky National Guard are on scene and working as hard as they can,” Beshear said on Twitter. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), several other crashes have closed roadways across the state. Other fatalities were reported in Oklahoma and Kansas due to crashes on slick roadways, authorities said.

Cities and states across the country have opened many warming centers this week as temperatures plummet to dangerously low levels. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner opened five warming centers across the city on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the cold weather, a press release wrote.

In Chicago, numerous warming centers have been opened as the mercury dips well below freezing. At least 34 centers were reported to be open in the Windy City Friday morning, according to the Cook County Department of Emergency Management. In Atlanta, at least 20 warming centers have been opened across the state, 11Alive news reported. Check with city and state officials for locations of warming centers near your hometown.

A person wrapped in a blanket crosses a snow-covered street Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

More than 680,000 households and businesses in 19 states stretching from Texas to Maine are now without power as powerful winds and bitter cold air continue in the eastern half of the country.

The hardest-hit states at 7:30 a.m. EST were Georgia, with about 100,000 without service, and Texas (74,000) and Connecticut (72,000), according to outage tracking site PowerOutage.us. Other states experiencing high levels of outages include Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, New York and Alabama.

Major snowstorm impacts millions across the US

Wind and snow were causing a dramatic rise in power outages early Friday morning. According to PowerOutage.us, more than 100,000 customers are without power in Georgia. Texas also has tens of thousands of customers in the dark, with over 67,000 customers in the dark. This Arctic air was expected to test the Texas power grid, and many are now without electricity. The situation is especially troubling since many will be unable to heat their homes without electricity.

Disruptions to all forms of travel were unfolding as a major cross-country winter storm continues to impact millions of Americans into the holiday weekend. AccuWeather experts are estimating about 5,000 flights will be impacted and travel on the roadways will be treacherous in many parts of the country. In the Northeast, a flash freeze is expected to send temperatures plummeting leading into Christmas Eve, which could create dangerous conditions on the roadways. “Cold air plummets in behind this storm system, a gusty northwesterly winds. We’re talking about rapidly falling temperatures and even though there’s not going to be a lot of snow in many places, any standing water on the roadways can quickly freeze,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. Department of Transportation officials across Midwest told AccuWeather National Reporter Jillian Angeline that they are preparing ahead of the storm. “We’re pretreating as we’re able. We’re also getting personnel ready, we’re getting supplies ready, trucks ready, so they’re ready to get out there,” Natalie Garrett of Indiana Department of Transportation told Angeline. “We have 1,800 trucks and equipment to treat the road,” Maria Castaneda of the Illinois Department of Transportation told Angeline. Officials are urging motorists if they have to travel to give the plows and other equipment plenty of room on the roads, and to have supplies like food, water and a blanket handy in case they get stuck on the roads.

As the major winter storm continues to track east, AccuWeather forecasters say it will explode in intensity, rapidly becoming a bomb cyclone that could unleash powerful winds and blizzard conditions across the central U.S. Bomb cyclone is a less technical term meteorologists often use to refer to a storm that has undergone bombogenesis, or a rapid strengthening defined by specific criteria. Bombogesnsis itself is a combination of two words: bomb and cyclogenesis. “All storms are cyclones, and genesis means the creation or beginning. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski explained. The technical measurement meteorologists use to identify if a storm has indeed become a bomb cyclone is inches of mercury. When the barometric pressure falls at least 0.71 of an inch (24 millibars) in 24 hours, a storm has undergone bombogenesis, according to Sosnowski.

The intense cold weather sweeping the nation is forecast to include parts of Florida, which could trigger an unusual phenomenon -- raining iguanas. Temperatures across the Florida Peninsula will fall below freezing, which will be too cold for iguanas in the state. These low temperatures cause iguanas to slow down and eventually become immobile, sending them falling out of trees. Back in January of this year, there were multiple reports of cold-stunned iguanas as temperatures dropped to the freezing mark as far south as the Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida. Despite the fall to the ground, they often survive and land on their backs with their spiny feet in the air, creating a spooky scene for residents who venture outside in the morning.

A blizzard is defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater, and a visibility less than one-quarter of a mile for three consecutive hours. Visibility decline can be created from considerable falling or blowing snow. Rate of snowfall is not needed for blizzard criteria, although some blizzards may produce snowfall rates of 2-6 inches per hour. A blizzard may be produced by a large-scale storm, lake-effect snow, a press of cold air or strong winds blowing across a surface made of powdery snow.

Heavy snowfall and traffic accidents on slippery roads can often result in power outages, making it difficult to stay warm in cold weather. Here are a few tips to follow if the power goes out during a winter storm:

• Keep all doors to the outside closed, and use towels to block drafts from windows and door cracks

• Insulate windows with black blankets or place blanket on the floor where the sun is directly shining

• Run a bathtub of hot water

• Turn faucets to a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing

• Don’t rely on gas stoves, charcoal grills or other open-flame heat sources as carbon monoxide gas may build up in your home. You should also be aware of fuel fumes while trying to make a hot meal.

• Place any generators outside, away from doors, windows and vents

• Limit non-emergency phone calls

AccuWeather forecasters warn that long-standing temperature records could be shattered this holiday weekend as temperatures are expected to drop to dangerously low levels. The coldest Christmas on record for the nation occurred in 1983. A 10-day Arctic invasion from Dec. 16, 1983, to the day after Christmas brought the lowest temperatures of the month to the entire U.S. “The average temperature across the U.S. was around 20 degrees F, and, to this day, most low temperature records from Dec. 25, 1983, still stand in much of the eastern half of the nation,” AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell said. On Christmas, nearly 78% of the U.S. recorded temperatures below 32 degrees F and at least 30% recorded temperatures below 10 degrees F. The coldest air was centered around the Midwest and along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains.In Chicago, the temperature dropped to 5 below zero on Christmas Day in 1983, setting a new record for the lowest temperature recorded on that day in the Windy City. Compared to normal, temperatures were 39 degrees F below average on that day nearly 40 years ago. While it won’t get that cold in Chicago this Christmas, AccuWeather forecasters warn that temperatures will feel much chillier, combined with the wind. In Chicago, temperatures on Christmas are forecast to be 15 degrees F, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 2 degrees F.

The historic cold weather impacting the country has resulted in extensive coverage around the United States. 13-year-old aspiring meteorologist Beckett Moore was no exception as he gave a snow forecast from St. Louis. "Here in the St. Louis metro right now we got a good amount of snow falling," Moore said as he walked outside during the snowfall in his area. Moore said the area is to expect 1 to 3 inches but could be "up to 2 to 4 inches." At the time of recording on Thursday, Moore reported half an inch to and inch of snow on the ground. Moore began recording weather updates and forecasts and sharing the videos on his YouTube page over a year ago. During the past year, he has uploaded more than 110 weather forecasts covering winter storms, severe weather and even hurricanes.

People across the St. Louis area were rushing around as the snow started to fall on Thursday to ensure they were ready to deal with the blast of wintry weather sweeping across the nation. From buying new windshield wipers to topping off fluids in their vehicles, folks were making sure they were ready for the arrival of Old Man Winter. “[I] just bought a new ice scraper since I seem to lose mine every spring,” one person told storm chaser Mike Scantlin. Temperatures on Thursday morning were above freezing, but temperatures tumbled as the day progressed, reaching 3 F by 4:31 p.m. CST with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 29 degrees below zero. Friday is likely to be the coldest day of 2022 for the city with the mercury only topping out at 5 F.

Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer is gearing up for another significant weather event, but his journey to intercept the impending lake-effect snow near Buffalo, New York, is being delayed. Timmer recorded a video outside of Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina where his flight was delayed due to weather in other areas of the country. The travel hiccup is not stopping his plans to head to Buffalo where the passage of an Arctic front will set off an extreme weather event.“

Behind that Arctic front in Buffalo, BIG lake-effect is expected,” Timmer said, going so far as calling it a “lake-effect emergency.” It’s not just the feet of snow and blizzard conditions in the forecast for downtown Buffalo. The intense winds responsible for generating the lake-effect snow will also cause coastal flooding on the eastern shores of Lake Erie where Timmer said storm surge could reach 4 feet above flood stage.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation said Interstate 29 has been closed in both directions from Sioux Falls to the North Dakota border. The closure began at 6 p.m. CST Thursday, just one hour after Interstate 90 was closed in both directions from Rapid City to Sioux Falls. SDDOT cautioned motorists to avoid travel due to the dangerous blizzard conditions. The department also warned not to use secondary roads to avoid the interstate closures. Multiple disabled vehicles have been reported across the state and several roads have been labeled as "no travel advised" by SDDOT, according to departments website.

Subfreezing temperatures will arrive just in time for the weekend across the Ohio River Valley and Northeast. Many residents in the Ohio River Valley will wake up to subfreezing temperatures on Friday morning. By 10 a.m. EST, the temperatures in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will be 8 degrees F, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® of 22 degrees F below zero. In New York City, the cold weather will arrive by lunchtime on Friday. As the sun sets on Friday, subfreezing temperatures will be spreading across New England. From Ohio to Maine, Friday night is expected to be frigid with winds gusting over 70 mph in some locations.

Thousands of power outages have been reported across the United States as a winter storm continues to impact the country. Texas currently leads the country in power outages, with over 39,000 customers without power as of 4:40 p.m. CST. Counties most affected by outages in the state include Upshur, Wood, Madison and Ellis, according to PowerOutage.us. Arkansas surpassed 6,500 customers without power on Thursday. To the north, over 5,000 customers are in the dark in Oklahoma and another 5,000 are without power in Kansas. A hard freeze warning will go into effect at 6 p.m. local time Thursday evening for the Dallas area.

"We want to make sure that everybody across the entire state of Texas hears directly from the head of the Public Utilities Commission, as well as the head of ERCOT, to know exactly the way that both the PUC and ERCOT are prepared to make sure that the power grid will remain up and running very robustly during this very cold snap," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference on Wednesday.

NASA’s Perseverance rover is driving around Jezero Crater on Mars and is experiencing warmer weather than millions of people across the Plains. The latest weather report from Jezero Crater was on Dec. 21, when the rover reported a high temperature of 7 degrees below zero. For people in the Plains, such a temperature seems out of reach. As of 3 p.m. MST, the high temperature in Denver was 8 degrees below zero. At the same time, the temperature in Casper, Wyoming, was 13 degrees below zero, and in Bozeman, Montana, the temperature was 25 degrees below zero.

Although the high temperature on Mars may feel warmer than in the Plains, the low temperature on the Red Planet is a different story. Temperatures drop off a cliff after the sun sets on Mars, with the Perseverance rover reporting a low temperature of 123 degrees below zero. The rover stays warm with the help of 10.6 pounds of Plutonium, which generates heat and serves as a power source for the robotic explorer.

The large swath of winter weather across the nation has resulted in over 2,000 flight cancellations on Thursday. As of 4 p.m. EST, Denver International Airport topped the entire world for flight cancellations with 257, according to Flight Aware. Chicago O'Hare also surpassed 250 cancellations on Thursday in addition to 255 delays. Other airports across the country seeing several cancellations include Chicago Midway, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, St. Louis Lambert and Dallas-Fort Worth. In total, more than 6,500 flights have been delayed across the country on Thursday.

Major snowstorm impacts millions across the US

A sprawling winter storm is snarling travel and unleashing bitter cold across a large swath of the U.S. in the days leading up to Christmas. AccuWeather forecasters project treacherous conditions will persist into Friday and Saturday with feet of snow for parts of the Midwest, a flash freeze in the Northeast and a cold snap that will put the Texas power grid to the test and cause unusual impacts for places like Florida.

At least five people have died in separate motor vehicle accidents as the storm started coating roads with snow and ice, according to authorities. Lt. Candice Breshears, of the Kansas Highway Patrol, said Thursday that three people were killed in multiple crashes reported the night before. In one of the collisions, authorities said, a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Sawyer Lysell-Alkire was traveling south on Interstate 135 in Saline County shortly after 9 p.m. when it veered off the highway and overturned into a ditch. A passenger in the vehicle, Grant L. Lysell-Alkire, 21, of Lindsborg, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver suffered minor injuries.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said it responded to two fatal crashes Thursday in the state, one on the Turner Turnpike near Luther and a three-vehicle crash that occurred in Paden in central Oklahoma.

Extremely serious weather conditions have kept Interstate 90 in South Dakota closed since Wednesday evening. The closure began at 6 p.m. Mountain Time and spans from exit 67 in Rapid City to Chamberlain. Sustained high winds created blizzard conditions in the area, causing SDDOT to warn motorists to avoid travel. On Thursday afternoon, SDDOT announced the closure on Interstate 90 would be extended to Sioux Falls at 5 p.m. Central Time. Many vehicles are stuck, stranded and blocking lanes of traffic, according to the post. The interstate is expected to remain closed into Friday.

President Joe Biden urged those planning to hit the road to visit family and friends for the long Christmas weekend to “leave now” to avert a potentially dangerous situation of being stranded by the massive storm making its way across the country. “If you all have travel plans, leave now. Not a joke,” Biden cautioned from the White House after a briefing from federal officials on the storm’s potential impact.

“This is not like a snow day when you were a kid. This is serious stuff,” the president said. “I encourage everyone, everyone, please heed the local warnings... Take this storm extremely seriously.” He said he has been in touch with 26 governors, some of whom had already declared states of emergency ahead of the storm.

At least three people have died in motor vehicle accidents during the storm, according to authorities. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said that officers responded to two fatal crashes Thursday in the state, one on the Turner Turnpike near Luther and a three-vehicle crash that occurred in Paden in central Oklahoma.

Also, one person was killed after multiple crashes were reported in Kansas Wednesday night as the wintry storm system started moving through the region. The Kansas Highway Patrol said a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Sawyer Lysell-Alkire was traveling south on Interstate 135 in Saline County shortly after 9 p.m. when it veered off the highway and overturned into a ditch.
A passenger in the vehicle, Grant L. Lysell-Alkire, 21, of Lindsborg, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver suffered minor injuries.

Snow started falling in Chicago late Thursday morning and is expected to continue until Friday night. According to AccuWeather forecasters, 4 to 8 inches of snow is expected to fall in the Windy City through the end of the week. The temperature in Chicago will also drop significantly through the end of the week. As of Thursday afternoon, the temperature in Chicago was 32 degrees F. But, by Friday morning, temperatures are expected to be 7 degrees F below zero with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 46 degrees F below zero. As snow showers continue on Friday, AccuWeather forecasters warn temperatures won’t warm up past 3 degrees F in the city. Anyone who is spending any amount of time outside is recommended to bundle up as the dangerously cold weather moves in. 

The “boiling water challenge” is becoming incredibly popular and with temperatures dropping below freezing across the U.S., and many people are testing it out. The challenge experiments whether the outside temperature is low enough to instantly freeze a pot of boiling water after throwing it into the air. If the challenge is successful, the liquid will instantly freeze and create a massive cloud. The challenge originated in Canada’s Northwest Territories in 22 degrees below zero temperatures. But, it’s been confirmed to still work with temperatures under 19 degrees F.

Adding food coloring to the water can help create some colorful clouds and make for some awesome photos. However, as interesting of an experiment as this is, if it isn’t done correctly, the person doing it could end up seriously injured. Make sure the water is being thrown away from the person conducting the experiment and any spectators. Oftentimes, people will throw the boiling water straight into the wind, which can result in burns if it is blown back in their direction.

At least one person has died after multiple crashes were reported in Kansas Wednesday night as the wintry storm system started moving through the region Wednesday night. The Kansas Highway Patrol said a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Sawyer Lysell-Alkire was traveling south on Interstate 135 in Saline County shortly after 9 p.m. when it veered off the highway and overturned into a ditch.

A passenger in the vehicle, Grant L. Lysell-Alkire, 21, of Lindsborg, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver suffered minor injuries. Police did not say whether the crash was directly related to worsening road conditions at the time.

An Arctic front sweepting across Texas on Dec. 22, 2022. (NOAA/GOES-EAST)

Thermometers in the Texas Panhandle have dipped below zero, with the biting wind making it dangerous to be outside for an extended period of time. The AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature in Amarillo, Texas, has been fluctuating between 30 degrees below zero and 40 degrees below zero since 2 a.m. CST Thursday. Perryton, Texas, located near the border of the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the coldest spot in the state with a temperature of 4 below zero and an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 43 degrees below zero. Frostbite can develop in just 10 minutes if people are outside in these extreme conditions.

Nearly 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that receives more than 5 inches of snow annually, and an overwhelming number of the nation’s roadways traverse those snowy areas, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). This means there is a high likelihood that your simple grocery store run or morning commute could be impacted by winter weather at least once. From snow to sleet to freezing rain or ice, winter weather yields numerous types of precipitation that all pose hazards and difficulties on the roadways. According to the FHA, more than 24% of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet. But equally dangerous is getting stuck for hours in a snowstorm in your vehicle. Many people don’t envision themselves in this situation, but the unthinkable does happen and being prepared and knowing what to do can help save you and your family’s lives. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to not travel if you can,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, but if you do have to be out on the roads, being prepared is vital.

• Have an emergency car kit that includes a flashlight, gloves, a battery-powered radio, water, extra food and a blanket.

• If you cannot move, stay where you are and don’t abandon your vehicle. It is a good place to take shelter, especially during a winter storm.

• Notify the authorities with your cellphone and pinpoint your location with GPS either on your cellphone or with navigation services in your car. Make sure to tell the authorities relevant information, like how much gas your car has, how much food and water you have and your location.

• If you don’t have any cellphone service to contact the authorities, then it is important to stay put.

• Turning your car off periodically will help conserve precious gas and battery life and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Make sure that your vehicle is visible to others. Using a piece of bright-colored fabric, road flares, or a traffic light behind your vehicle will all help to ensure your car is easily spotted on the road or highway.

• Make sure if you have to leave your home, to have a fully charged cellphone as well as a portable cellphone charger for the car.

Hockey games have been added to the list of canceled events across the U.S. as a major winter storm ramps up. The NHL announced on Wednesday that the Buffalo Sabres’ home game on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning will be postponed “due to impending inclement weather” and “out of an abundance of caution.” According to AccuWeather forecasters, Friday’s weather in Buffalo, New York, will consist of windy, cold and snowy conditions. A blizzard warning will be in effect for the city starting on Friday morning and it will continue through Sunday morning. Friday night, temperatures are expected to drop close to the single digits, and AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures are expected to drop as low as 20 degrees below zero. 

A major winter storm is already impacting travel plans across the country. As of Thursday morning, at least 1,540 flights had been canceled within, into or out of the U.S., according to FlightAware. The majority of flight cancellations are from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport, with 215 and 119 canceled flights, respectively, as of 10 a.m. EST Thursday. Southwest Airlines has the most of canceled flights, with more than 570 flights canceled and nearly 320 delayed flights.

“Weather conditions caused by winter storms are resulting in multiple disruptions across the country,” Southwest Airlines wrote in a travel advisory update. American Airlines also wrote in a travel alert that winter weather will impact operations across the Midwest, Northeast and East Coast airports. In preparation for the winter storm, major airlines, such as United, American and Southwest offered a variety of weather-related waivers earlier this week.

Blizzard conditions left more than 100 drivers and passengers stranded on Interstate 90 between Rapid City and Wall in South Dakota, Wednesday as extremely low visibility made for a “dangerous situation” and brought traffic to a halt, authorities said.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said emergency crews worked well into the evening hours rescuing people whose vehicles were stuck along a long stretch of snow-covered highway as frigid cold temperatures plummeted even further to well below zero. I-90 was shut down in both directions between Box Elder and Chamberlain due to low visibility and snow-packed surfaces. “Westbound traffic at Interstate 90 mile marker 82 is at a standstill,” the Sheriff’s Office reported at one point in the afternoon.

Thursday morning, Rapid City recorded wind chills of 39 to 41 below F, according to the National Weather Service. Warming centers were set up at local churches and other sites. I-90 eastbound and westbound in South Dakota remained closed from Rapid City (Box Elder exit 67) to Chamberlain remained closed Thursday morning due to high winds and drifting and blowing snow.

Call it a winter trifecta: A powerful snowstorm with dangerously frigid temperatures and howling winds will make for a messy Christmas weekend for millions from coast-to-coast.

About 20 states are under some type of winter storm warning or freezing rain advisory as the juggernaut Arctic weather system, which started in the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday, tracks eastward Thursday into Friday, dumping up to 2 feet of heavy snow in some parts of the U.S. and causing blizzard conditions for the Midwest.

A blast of frigid air will plunge temperatures into the single digits and even below zero in some spots. Widespread damaging wind gusts of 40 to 70 mph will make it feel worse with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures plummeting well below zero. Some regions could also see flash freezing, when rapidly dropping temps quickly freeze any liquid on the roadways. The storm will impact millions just before the holiday weekend, not to mention the slew of businesses that depend on these critical last days of holiday shopping. Travelers can expect airline delays or cancellations and those driving will face some treacherous and unpredictable road conditions. Thousands of power outages are also anticipated.

As the storm moves east, it’s expected to rapidly intensify, strengthening into a “bomb cyclone.” This process, called bombogenesis, occurs when a storm undergoes explosive development and the barometric pressure of the storm falls to at least 0.71 of an inch (24 millibars) in 24 hours.Check for the latest updates on AccuWeather.com and the AccuWeather app.

At least five states have issued states of emergency orders ahead of a frigid, powerful snowstorm that is moving across the U.S. through Friday, hitting multiple states with heavy snow, damaging winds, freezing rain and dangerous bitter cold.

So far, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and North Carolina have issued the emergency orders that, in part, activate their emergency response and operations plans. Emphasizing that the storm “is going to be really dangerous,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he wants everyone to heed the state’s warning and stay off the roads. “After midday Thursday, don’t travel unless you have to -- unless you’re an essential employee,” the governor said.

Major snowstorm impacts millions across the US

Kentucky officials also cautioned residents to prepare for power outages, broken waterlines and damage to the public infrastructure, stressing that families “make a plan to have a backup heat source in place and to make a vehicle kit,” if necessary. The state was in the process of opening up warming centers for local residents in the event of extended outages.Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also issued a state of emergency order as transportation and utility crews prepared for dangerous road conditions and downed trees and power lines. The order will allow for essential supplies, particularly propane, to be delivered for both commercial and residential needs, according to officials. “Temperatures as we know it likely won’t reach 40 degrees across Georgia until Monday afternoon,” the governor said at a news conference Wednesday.“

The State of Emergency will help ease some restrictions and allow heating fuel companies to keep up with demand,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper told the media as his state braces for icy conditions.