A powerful winter storm is rapidly intensifying into a bomb cyclone, spreading heavy snow and dangerous winds across the Southeast, with the Carolinas facing their heaviest snowfall in years. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings from Georgia through Virginia as the storm strengthens Saturday (January 31), bringing blizzard conditions and hurricane-force wind gusts to coastal areas, especially North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Several inches of snow are falling in parts of the Carolinas. Maggie Valley in North Carolina already reported nine inches of snow. Cities like Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh are seeing their biggest snow accumulations since at least 2018. Blizzard warnings are in effect, with wind gusts near 70 mph forecast along the coast, raising concerns of severe coastal flooding and erosion.
Transportation authorities across the region are urging drivers to stay off the roads due to hazardous conditions from snow and ice. State crews are working to clear highways, but accidents and slick roads have been reported throughout Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a rare eight-inch snowfall is expected, prompting officials to cancel events and treat major roads in advance.
The storm is also causing major concerns for coastal areas. Massive waves and high tides threaten to topple more homes on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where sections of the beach and Highway 12 have been closed. According to USA TODAY, the region could see widespread power outages and flooding as winds and waves batter the coastline.
Frigid Arctic air is trailing the storm, plunging temperatures into the single digits and below zero in some areas. The cold will linger through early next week, reaching as far south as Florida. Over 130 million people from the Midwest to the Southeast are under cold and winter storm alerts this weekend.
Governors in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have declared states of emergency to free up resources and respond to the storm. Power outages remain a concern, especially for regions still recovering from last weekend’s deadly storm, which left over 100 people dead from Texas to New Jersey.
Officials urge residents to stay home, bundle up, and prepare for possible outages. Safety experts recommend wearing layers, watching for signs of frostbite and hypothermia, and using caution when shoveling snow or venturing outside. State agencies continue to monitor conditions and will reopen roads and beaches only when it is safe to do so.
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