A mix of wintry weather conditions is bringing warnings and advisories people, stretching from the Northwest down to the Texas border into the Northeastern U.S. early into the week.
Historic snowfalls were recorded in , according to the National Weather Service, with nearly 9 inches, the city's highest recorded total since 1969. The city also shut down some coronavirus vaccination sites, but kept testing centers open. Further south in Oregon, the city of Portland reported with, as the Associated Press reports, power outages leaving in the region in the dark that night.
Here is a list of the 2 consecutive days 10 inch plus snow events since weather records started in Seattle in the 1890's. Friday and Saturday ended up with the 15th highest 2 consecutive days snow total in over 125 years of records.
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle)
Snow and wintry conditions throughout the Pacific Northwest also caused accidents and massive disruptions to transportation. Oregon's Department of Transportation noted that by the storm and ice had shut down roads throughout the state. Authorities also briefly closed a that runs through the Columbia Gorge, citing blowing snow and frozen roads. The highway was at least partially reopen on Sunday.
The mix of treacherous weather and travel conditions prompted action from authorities. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency for Portland and . Advisories and warnings were kept in place through Sunday night and into early Monday.
The National Weather Service also said Sunday that parts of the Northwest could brace for another Pacific storm system, which would bring some of its densest snowfall to the Cascade mountain range. Parts of Idaho, Wyoming and the central Rockies could see more than a foot of snow, according to forecasters.
Wintry conditions are also affecting large parts of the U.S., extending — in a very rare occurrence — through the South, including Texas where Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all of the As of Sunday afternoon, the entire state was under a , the first time in a decade for some parts of the state. Abbott also said he would request a from the White House to make available additional resources.
"Every part of the state will face freezing conditions over the coming days, and I urge all Texans to remain vigilant against the extremely harsh weather that is coming," Abbott said in a Saturday statement.
In Houston, where the AP notes, temperatures were reported earlier this week, officials closed down schools and warned residents to stay off the roads beginning Sunday night and into Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Houston said parts of southeast Texas could see temperatures drop into the single digits , with will chills near or below zero throughout the region.
Hard Freeze & Wind Chill Warnings are in effect for all of SE TX from Sun evening thru Tue morning. Lows in the teens to 20s Mon morning & in the single digits to teens Tue morning. By Tue morning, wind chills near & below zero everywhere! Prepare now!
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston)
The National Weather Service said snow, falling heavily at times, would be common from New Mexico to the Mississippi Valley on Sunday, with some of the heaviest totals in central Oklahoma and New Mexico's Sacramento Mountains.
In addition, the service said areas from the Texas coast to the Tennessee Valley would see significant ice accumulations into Monday, when the worst of the storm's ice-related effects are predicted. Icy conditions are also expected to extend through the Northeast.
The Weather Service also predicts snowfall of up to 12 inches in places on Tuesday from Central Oklahoma all the way through East Texas and into the Northeast.
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