A number of warnings have been issued regarding the threat of freezing fog” as harsh winter weather conditions continue to sweep across the U.S.
Advisories issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) warned drivers about the risks of freezing fog in several cities in Maryland, North Carolina, Washington, D.C. and much of Virginia on Sunday morning.
Why It Matters
Freezing fog is rare in the U.S., occurring only when surface temperatures themselves are at or below freezing, and can pose significant hazards for residents including reduced visibility and the rapid formation of black ice. On Sunday, the NWS said that visibility could be limited to “one quarter mile or less,” that this “could make driving conditions hazardous” and that black ice would lead to slick travel conditions.
What To Know
The alerts issued by the NWS remained in effect until midday, and follow the winter storm alerts that were in place for states across the West and Northwest. Early on Sunday, the NWS warned of harsh conditions for Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Wyoming, telling residents to expect several inches of snow, gusty winds and potentially “life-threatening” conditions for those exposed to the elements.
These harsh weather conditions have begun to affect weekend travel, with over 4,000 flights within, into or out of the U.S. having been delayed as of Sunday morning, according to FlightAware, alongside more than 550 cancellations.
According to CBS News, over 18 million Americans live in areas under this weekend’s winter weather alerts. The network’s meteorologist, Andrew Kozak, said that the snowy conditions moving from the Northwest to Midwest on Sunday morning will be followed by heavy rain affecting Oregon and Washington late Sunday into Monday.
The National Water Center on Sunday warned that “considerable flooding” is expected in Washington, particularly around Seattle, early to midweek, with limited flooding anticipated in parts of Oregon.
What People Are Saying
The Quad Cities office of the NWS, covering parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, posted to X on Sunday: “The snow and wintry mix is winding down, however many roads will remain slick and snow covered this morning. If you are planning to travel, please take it slow and allow for extra time to reach your destination.”
Meteorologist Max Velocity posted to X on Saturday: “This winter is about to take a serious turn…Models hinting at a VERY intense Arctic blast next weekend. We’ll see if it holds, but if it does, this would easily be the coldest weather we’ve seen since February.”
What Happens Next
In its Day 3-7 Hazards Outlook issued on Sunday, the NWS said that heavy snow would hit Michigan, New York, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington, and warned of the heavy precipitation expected in Washington and Oregon.
