A substantial winter storm is poised to impact a wide swath of the United States this weekend, with significant weather disturbances anticipated from the Southern Plains to the Ohio Valley and Mid Atlantic regions. Various states, including Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, and Ohio, are currently under winter storm watches, as forecasters predict the potential for heavy snowfall and damaging ice. The National Weather Service has indicated that travel disruptions are likely to commence Saturday evening, persisting through Monday, particularly in the Texas Panhandle. Additionally, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred near Ferndale, California, though no tsunami threat has been detected. As we navigate these developments, we will provide ongoing updates regarding the storm's progression and any necessary safety measures.
Takeaways:
A significant winter storm is anticipated to impact multiple regions, including Texas and the Northeast.
Winter storm watches have been issued for various states, indicating potential heavy snow and ice accumulation.
Travel disruptions are expected as the winter weather system evolves, particularly from Friday night through Sunday.
Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of preparedness in Maryland in response to the impending winter storm.
Seismic activity was noted with a minor earthquake occurring near Ferndale, California, without tsunami threats.
The National Weather Service has high confidence in significant winter weather impacts throughout the weekend.
A large, long duration winter storm organizes today and spreads from the Southern Plains into the Ohio Valley and Mid Atlantic this weekend.
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Winter storm watches are posted across parts of Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, Ohio and into the Northeast with NWS guidance highlighting the potential for heavy snow and damaging ice in some southern and central areas in the mid Atlantic.
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NWS Mount Holly's 5am briefing calls for major winter weather impacts and widespread travel disruption beginning Saturday night through Monday in the Texas Panhandle.
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Forecasters are signaling 6 to 12 inches of snow along with dangerous wind chills.
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El Paso and southern New Mexico remain under winter storm and extreme cold watches with accumulating snow mainly east of El Paso.
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Seismically, USGS reports a magnitude 4.3 earthquake this morning about 94 kilometers west of Ferndale, California.
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No tsunami threat indicated.
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DHS check no new National Terrorism Advisory System update.
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Let's run through the states.
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California Northern coastal waters feel a magnitude 4.3 quake this morning roughly 60 miles west of Ferndale.
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Shaking is light with no tsunami messaging along the north coast should expect routine aftershocks but no special protective actions at this time.
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Separately, NWS Bay Area notes a planned service outage today that temporarily affects NOAA.
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Weather Radio and the KMUX radar have multiple ways to receive warnings as the broader weekend system evolves.
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Louisiana USGS logs A minor magnitude 2.6 earthquake near Edgefield in northwestern Louisiana early today.
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Quakes of this size are typically felt locally but do not cause damage.
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No protective actions are advised beyond standard awareness.
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Governor Wes Moore declares a state of preparedness ahead of the weekend Winter storm authorizing Maryland Emergency Management to coordinate readiness actions for potential snow, ice, power outages and cold statewide from Saturday.
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Winter storm watches now cover much of central and southern Missouri with with NWS calling for 3 to 8 inches of snow in some areas and dangerous wind chills into the weekend.
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Travel hazards escalate Friday night through Sunday.
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New Mexico A significant winter storm spreads across central and northern New Mexico Friday through Saturday night.
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Highest totals favor the central mountain chain.
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Eastern NM may see deteriorating travel Friday night into Saturday with dangerous wind chills Friday night through Monday.
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Ohio Winter storm watches expand across parts of northern and central Ohio for Saturday into Sunday night.
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NWS highlights accumulating snow and sub zero wind chills by late weekend.
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NWS Mount Holly briefings indicate high confidence in major winter storm impacts late Saturday through Monday across southeast Pennsylvania with widespread travel disruptions and periods of heavy snow possible mixed precipitation risks increase farther South Texas faces a high impact winter event from Friday through Sunday.
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The Panhandle and South plains trend toward 6 to 12 inches of snow, with wind chills as low as 15 below.
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Hill country and Central Texas carry ice risks and extreme cold watches.
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West Texas and the El Paso area hold winter storm and extreme cold watches with accumulating snow mainly east of El Paso and very cold conditions region wide.
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All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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We'll continue to monitor the winter storm's evolution and any new official actions.
