A winter storm moving through the southern U.S. could bring snow to sections of Florida’s Gulf Coast for the first time in ten years, with meteorologists cautioning it may intensify into a “bomb cyclone.”
By Friday, the system had already started producing snow in areas of eastern Tennessee, the Carolinas, and southern Virginia, and Tampa might experience snow flurries for the first time since 2010.
Approximately 240 million people were subject to cold weather advisories on Saturday, with close to 200,000 customers , some outages lingering from last week’s storm, primarily in Tennessee and Mississippi.
The storm could evolve into a bomb cyclone—a meteorological phenomenon where atmospheric pressure plummets rapidly, generating powerful winds and snowfall.
“An explosively intensifying coastal cyclone will persist in delivering moderate to heavy snow, strong winds, and potential blizzard conditions to the Carolinas through tonight,” the National Weather Service (NWS) stated in its Saturday afternoon. “A powerful surge of arctic air trailing the coastal storm will push sub-freezing temperatures into South Florida by Sunday morning.”
The storm will set records, the NWS noted, “delivering the coldest air in nearly a decade or more” to Florida. An Extreme Cold Warning is active for Sunday morning, when wind chills may dip into the upper teens in West Palm Beach. Cities are urging residents to reduce power usage, and medical are reporting a rise in flu and asthma cases.
While the South is expected to bear the brunt, forecast models suggest the storm will shift offshore by Sunday, sparing the Northeast from snowfall.
North Carolina, meanwhile, is anticipated to be severely impacted. In contrast to last week’s storm, which primarily delivered ice, this weather system is predicted to generate more snow, with some parts of the state possibly receiving 8 to 13 inches. The state is under a State of Emergency, and Gov. Josh Stein issued advising residents to avoid travel.
“Our transportation, public safety, and emergency management teams are deployed and working to ensure public safety, and I appreciate their ongoing work,” Stein said. “Remain at home and off the highways, get a sled, and take part in the winter enjoyment.”
Wind is another major worry for the state’s emergency crews, with gusts of 25-45 mph forecast for central North Carolina and even stronger coastal gusts potentially reaching 55-70 mph or more.
