Statewide snowstorms and tornadoes are forecast for Anchorage, South Dakota, during the last week in the wake of a giant winter storm

A giant winter storm cutting through the US is bringing severe weather, with dangerous blizzard conditions in the Great Plains, icy weather in the upper Midwest and severe storms along the Gulf Coast Tuesday.

The storm which walloped the West over the weekend is expected to intensify as it pushes eastward Tuesday and stall in the central Plains into Thursday, snarling travel and blowing snow.

Some areas inside the blizzard warnings could receive as much as 20 inches of snow, with winds strong enough to knock down tree limbs and cause power outages.

A tornado watch is in effect for parts of Texas and Oklahoma. A couple of tornadoes are possible, as well as ping-pong-sized hail and wind gusts up to 75 mph.

From Tuesday to Wednesday there will be flash flooding from the lower Mississippi Valley down into the central Gulf Coast and the Tennessee Valley.

There were winter storm alerts stretching from the Canadian border to the Mexican border because of the storm that hit the Western US.

The National Weather Service office in Rapid City, South Dakota, said travel through the area will be nearly impossible Tuesday and Wednesday, and possibly into Thursday.

Interstates in South Dakota could become impassable amid the blizzard conditions, resulting in roadway closures across the state, the South Dakota Department of Transportation warned Monday.

The National Weather Service in Minnesota has issued various winter weather warnings. The Minnesota Department of Transportation said in a tweet Monday, “Challenging winter weather could impact travel statewide all week.”

“The snowstorms that have hit Anchorage over the last week are historic in nature, bringing anywhere between 30-45 inches of snow to our city,” said Hans Rodvik, a spokesperson for the Anchorage mayor’s office, said in a statement to CNN Monday.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/13/weather/nationwide-winter-storm-blizzard-tuesday/index.html

The Cannon: How to Avoid a Blizzard in the First Week of Winter, and How to Plan a Way Around the Clumpy Valley

These areas need the moisture and have seen great relief to drought conditions in the past week. This week, Tennessee’s percentage of being under severe drought increased from 98% to 46%.

Warm thoughts of young romance — not the cold, harsh possibilities of a Midwestern road trip in winter — were on Dawn O’Hair’s mind as she left Chicago for Indianapolis to see her boyfriend.

Her visit back in 1997-98 did not go well. After a fight with her boyfriend, O’Hair got back into her car and went to work in Chicago.

“I ended up in whiteout conditions. She said she had trouble maintaining control of her car. “The wind was crazy. The snow was blowing sideways. It was super hard to see. It was horrible.”

She said that her car got stuck after she pulled over. “I didn’t know what to do. I tried to get traction but did not have luck.

She was in a mess. She hadn’t checked the forecasts. She had nothing particularly warm to wear. There were no blankets. There is no winter kit. It was just her car, and time to think about how things went so wrong.

The entire United States was covered in ice on the first week of winter in 2022, a monster “bomb depression” that may have been dangerous.

Unless you live in a year-round warm climate and plan to stay there, it’s important to know how winter storms behave, how to avoid and prepare for them, and heaven forbid, what to do in the worst-case scenario.

The National Weather Service says a blizzard must have large amounts of falling snow or blowing snow, winds greater than 35 mph (56 kph) and visibility of less than a quarter mile (0.4 km) for at least three hours. There is no falling snow in a ground blizzard, instead it blows snow that has fallen before it kicked up.

Any weather system with below freezing temperatures along with snow and ice can be a safety hazard. Blizzards, however, are one of the most dangerous types of winter storms.

They can lead not only “to perilous driving conditions under low visibility and snow-covered roads, but can also lead to disorientation for anyone walking or driving, resulting in the person not knowing where they are or where they are going,” said Michael Muccilli, meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NWS, in an email interview with CNN Travel

When taking a road trip, make sure you check the weather conditions about a week in advance and make sure to check again each day as the weather forecasts get better, said Muccilli.

Muccilli said if you’re going through high mountain passes, you need to check the entire route, not just the starting and ending points.

If you’re going hiking or camping, checking forecasts is a must, said Beth Pratt, the California regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation.

Don’t skip a forecast check if it’s fall, spring or summer in one of the locations. They can lull you into a false sense of security because your guard might not be up as much as the dead of winter, Pratt said.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/how-to-survive-blizzard-weather-wellness/index.html

How to Survive a Blizzard Weather Wellness in the Sierra Nevadas: A Posteriori Comment on O’Hair’s Predicament

She resides on the border of Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevadas, where you might start out on a hike on a late fall day while it’s still warm but suddenly encounter a dangerous wintry blast.

“Blizzards are most common in the upper Midwest and Great Plains in the United States, but can occur in most areas of the country except the Gulf Coast and coastal California,” Muccilli said. Russia, central and northeastern Asia, northern Europe and Canada are places where you’ll most often see them.

If you’re outside, the Red Cross also says to cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air. Don’t gulp in deep breaths of frigid air and talk as little as possible.

Remember O’Hair’s predicament. If it’s not threatening as you depart or you just want to stay in your car, then it’s crucial to bring along winter clothing.

The Massachusetts government website sayslayering is important and should be done in several layers of loosefitting, lightweight clothing.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/how-to-survive-blizzard-weather-wellness/index.html

How to Survive a Blizzard Weather Wellness: Advice from Rick Muccilli, National Ski Patrol Safety Team Director Rick Shandler

— Proper footwear — Enough water and food– A headlamp and a lighter– A whistle– A first aid kit– A map or other navigation tools– A transceiver to transmit your location in case you are trapped in an avalanche– A probe to pinpoint your exact location– A shovel to dig out– You should get an airbag pack if you want to stay near the surface.

If you want to make yourself visible, Muccilli said to stay inside your vehicle, set road flares, and wear a colorful cloth. It’s helpful to contact emergency services with as much information as you can.

If conditions are safe enough, you can “attempt to shovel out your tires and throw down sand, rock salt, dirt, cardboard or kitty litter to give your vehicle more traction. If this does not work, call the emergency services.

The NWS advises not to leave your vehicle to walk for help during a blizzard. You could get disoriented. It says you should run the motor for 10 minutes a hour, but open the windows to let in some fresh air. Clear snow away from the exhaust pipe if possible.

Whether you are camping, hiking, backcountry skiing or doing other similar types of outside activities, carry the correct safety gear. Muccilli said this might include but is not limited to:

Rick Shandler, the program director of the Safety Team at National Ski Patrol, told people enjoying a day on the slopes to check the local weather forecast.

He told the story of how people stay out during bad weather in order to get the most value from lift tickets.

There is a cell phone in a pocket. The cold can quickly sap your battery if it’s in an outer pocket. Add the ski patrol number to your phone as soon as possible, before you head out.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/how-to-survive-blizzard-weather-wellness/index.html

How to Survive a Blizzard, Weather Wellness: Advice from Pratt on Mount Washington, New Hampshire, during a 1988 Blitz

Pratt said the closest she ever came to dying in a blizzard was in her college years back in 1990. She was hiking with two friends on Mount Washington in New Hampshire and it was in June.

The only thing that saved us was the tracks to the Mount Washington railway, which were shut down due to the storm. So we had breadcrumbs to follow. If we hadn’t been near those tracks, we would have hunkered down. Our rain gear was shredded by the wind.

“It’s ill-advised to walk yourself out of a blizzard. Navigation is tough, and you burn more energy when you are cold, so conserve it. Find shelter. If there is not enough snow, build a snow cave. Wait it out.”

See if you can make a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection from the wind. A fire can be set. If there are rocks nearby, put those around the fire to retain heat. Global Rescue says even low-hanging tree branches could provide some protection.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/how-to-survive-blizzard-weather-wellness/index.html

An Indiana woman’s ride to a gas station and back again: Dawn O’Hair, an Indiana state police officer, and a young man’s boyfriend

When it’s time to move, do so with your arms, legs, fingers and toes. But don’t overdo it. The cold and hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia,” the NWS website says.

Fortunately for Dawn O’Hair, what she lacked in winter preparation she made up for in a good decision, good luck and good connections with people in northern Indiana.

Less than an hour later, a young woman pulled up and offered her a ride to a gas station. A woman had a boyfriend who was a police officer and took her to an Indiana state police post. She was transported to her cousin’s house on a snowmobile after she was able to reach him from the post.

“I would have paid more attention to the weather forecast and planned ahead better! Young love is stupid, I probably would have left the day before.