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Two winter storms are set to impact the United States this week, placing 30 million people under weather alerts. The storms, named Harlow and Iliana, will bring snow, freezing rain, and Arctic cold to parts of the country. The first storm is expected to form over the central Plains, bringing rain and light icing to Oklahoma and Arkansas. By Tuesday (February 11), moderate snow is anticipated from Kentucky to Maryland, with the mid-Atlantic possibly receiving three to six inches of snow and locally up to eight inches. Washington, D.C., and Baltimore could see four to six inches of snow, while Philadelphia might get two to three inches and New York City around one inch.
The southern side of the storm system may experience heavy rain, with one to three inches possible across the South through Thursday (February 13). The National Weather Service has issued a slight risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley due to potential localized flooding. Cities like Shreveport, Jackson, Birmingham, Atlanta, Knoxville, and Asheville are on alert for urban flooding.
Arctic cold air will also bring temperatures 25 to 40 degrees below average across the northern Rockies and northern High Plains. In Boulder, Colorado, temperatures will drop to the teens, while Bismarck, North Dakota, could experience life-threatening wind chills as low as minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The second storm will bring light snow to Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas on Tuesday night, with moderate to heavy snow expected from Kansas to Michigan by Wednesday (February 12). Major cities like Kansas City, Des Moines, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit could see accumulating snow. Chicago's heaviest snow is expected during the Wednesday evening commute, with forecasts predicting four to eight inches.
By Thursday, the storm will move into Canada, leaving snow in northern New England and rain along the Interstate 95 corridor from Boston to Raleigh. Strong storms may also affect the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, southern Georgia, and coastal South Carolina.
The storms follow a weekend of severe winter weather that blanketed much of the Northeast, causing travel disruptions and over 3,000 flight delays. As the country braces for more winter weather, officials urge residents to prepare for hazardous conditions and potential power outages.