Much of the United States will be slammed with wintry weather the week before Christmas.
What’s going on: Millions of Americans will experience some combination of snow, ice, freezing rain and thunderstorms throughout the week, CNN reports.
- A major weather storm system hit much of the West Coast this week. It is now traveling toward the East Coast.
- Snow will hit areas of the central plains and the Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the northern Mid-Atlantic states, CNN reports.
- Sleet, snow and rain will likely drop along the East Coast proper, affecting cities like Washington, D.C, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City.
- At least five people have died from weather-related crashes, according to USA Today.
- 60 million people remain under weather alerts.
Trouble in the South: Southern states could see some troubling thunderstorms, too, per USA Today.
- Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are already facing heavy winds and rain. Other states could be next.
- AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham (via USA Today): “These storms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, torrential downpours, hail and even an isolated tornado or two. These threats will continue for a time into the evening hours, becoming even more dangerous in the dark.”