With much of the U.S. still frozen, parts of the South will see snow and strong winds, with the possibility of blizzards along the coast.
The National Weather Service said Saturday, January 31, that a major winter storm warning is in effect from Georgia to Virginia. Heavy snow and gusty winds are expected from the southern Appalachians of Georgia to the coastal Carolinas and southeastern Virginia.
The heaviest snowfall and wind gusts are expected in North Carolina, where forecasters warn bomb cyclones will cause dangerous conditions.
The weather service said 8 to 12 inches of snow could be possible inland with winds blowing. Near the Outer Banks, the area could see wind gusts of up to 70 mph, approaching hurricane strength, and there is a coastal flooding warning, although there will be less snow.
“Now is the time to hunker down,” Scott Kennedy, a weather service meteorologist at the agency’s Morehead City, North Carolina, office, told USA TODAY, adding that snow had begun to accumulate Saturday morning.
The weather service then predicted arctic air would bring record-cold temperatures and wind chills near or below 0 degrees to the Southeast by Tuesday.
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said in a statement that more than 130 million people were under cold and winter storm warnings over the weekend.
How much snow did it snow?
What’s in the weekend winter storm forecast?
A coastal cyclone is expected to bring moderate to heavy snow to the Carolinas Saturday night, along with high winds and possible blizzard conditions, the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center said in a forecast discussion. The eastern seaboard will experience strong winds and coastal flooding.
A core of Arctic air is expected to dive “unusually southerly” into the lower Southeast through the remainder of the weekend. Temperatures across southern Florida could dip below freezing by Sunday morning.
Daily low temperatures are expected to be challenged or broken south of the mid-Atlantic through the weekend into early next week.
The National Weather Service’s January 31 forecast shows up to 12 inches of snowfall along the North Carolina coast.
Elsewhere, the Plains and Great Lakes will experience rain, snow and cold temperatures from January 31 to February 1.
How to stay safe during winter storms
According to the National Institute on Aging, if you must go outside, be sure to wear waterproof boots and loose-fitting clothing so the air between the boots can keep you warm, along with a hat, scarf, and gloves to maintain body temperature.
As Ready.gov explains, you should also know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia, which can be life-threatening.
If you must drive, be sure to drive slowly and be aware that black ice is difficult to see. Always check to make sure the car is in good condition; check fluid levels, windshield wipers and gas levels. Let someone know your times and route, and keep a survival kit just in case.
High winds and snow can also cause power outages, so prepare extra supplies.
When it’s time to go outside and shovel snow, be sure to take steps to stay safe. According to the American Heart Association, shoveling snow can lead to injuries and heart disease because heart rate and blood pressure increase when it’s cold. USA Today has an explanation for when the storm will pass.
Contributed by Jeanine Santucci, Melina Khan and Janet Loehrke of USA TODAY
(This story has been updated to change or add photos or video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much snow will fall? Forecasts said the bomb tornado would focus its wrath on the Carolinas.
