What We Know About the Winter Storm About to Hit the US—and What We Don’t

The article discusses an approaching winter storm expected to impact nearly 30 states across the US, from New Mexico and Texas in the west to Maine and Georgia in the east and south. Meteorologists emphasize that while heavy snow is forecasted to begin Friday in the Rocky Mountains and Plains and move eastward by Sunday, significant uncertainty remains about the storm’s precise development and regional impacts. A key concern is the potential for heavy freezing rain, especially in central Virginia, which could cause power outages by weighing down trees and power lines. The storm is notable for its high moisture content, having drawn substantial moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, which guarantees widespread precipitation but leaves the exact mix of rain, snow, sleet, or freezing rain uncertain. Forecasters caution that current National Weather Service “Key Messages” are preliminary and not official winter weather warnings, with more specific forecasts expected as the storm evolves. The article highlights the risk to regions historically underprepared for severe winter weather, recalling past storms that caused prolonged power outages