At least 15 US states, Washington, DC, declare emergencies ahead of major winter storm

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Millions of people across much of the continental US are facing states of emergency Friday as wide swathes of the country brace for a major winter storm this weekend.

Effects from the potentially historic storm are expected to be felt from the Southwest through the Northeast, beginning Saturday. Emergencies have so far been declared in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and the nation's capital.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said heavy snowfall is expected to hit from Oklahoma in the Midwest through southern Maine in the Northeast. "Widespread freezing rain and sleet" are expected throughout the South and the Southeast.

"The storm will cause significant to locally catastrophic ice accumulations with the potential for long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions," the NWS said on US social media platform X.

Broadcaster ABC reported that over 2,000 Saturday flights within, into or out of the country had been cancelled due to the looming storm.

In Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser warned residents that the nation's capital is expecting to be hit with the largest winter storm in a decade with her emergency declaration slated to take effect Saturday at noon, and remain in effect through Tuesday.

At least 9 inches (23 cm) of snow is expected in Washington, DC with some models predicting over 12 inches (30 cm). Accumulation is forecast to begin Saturday evening and continue through Sunday as temperatures plummet.

US President Donald Trump warned that a "record cold wave" is expected to hit dozens of US states.

"Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — whatever happened to global warming???" he mused on his Truth Social platform.