Preparations are underway as a cold snap bears down on much of the U.S., bringing below freezing temperatures and snow.
An arctic cold airmass is expected to hit the Atlanta area, which would see temperatures plummet Sunday evening. The National Weather Service in Atlanta said some locations will stay below freezing “for a few days.”
“Please begin to take precautions this weekend,” the agency said in a post on X.
In Connecticut, most of the state will receive about four to ten inches of snow beginning late Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. A fleet of more than 600 snowplows and specialized snow removal equipment is ready to deploy, Governor Ned Lamont said in a news release. Crews will also be on standby throughout the weekend and “will remain active until the roads are clear of snow and ice,” the release states.
“This storm is being forecast well in advance, which is why now is the time for motorists to plan ahead and get to where they need to be before the snowfall begins on Sunday afternoon,” Lamont said. “Stay home if you can and watch football. If you need to drive, take it slow, and if you approach a plow, please keep a safe distance and allow them to do their jobs.”
A winter weather alert was issued for Sunday and Monday, the New York City Emergency Management Department said. The storm is expected to bring two to five inches of snow accumulation with the potential for higher amounts in some areas.
Temperatures are also expected to drop below freezing on Monday, the department said in a news release, warning that travel conditions could be “hazardous.”
“We’re expecting snow Sunday and a cold snap hitting the city tomorrow night through Wednesday. To keep streets safe and clean, city agencies will be implementing snow clearing protocol and reaching out to connect unsheltered New Yorkers to shelters,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
Several cities are opening warming centers to provide shelter to people who need to escape the frigid weather. In Alabama, centers will open across Dale, Mobile and Houston counties, the state’s Emergency Management Agency said. Five community centers will serve as warming stations in Columbus, Ohio, the city’s Recreation and Parks Department said in a post on X. Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the city will be opening 10 warming centers, and officials in Chicago provided a list of centers open on Monday on the city website.
Jeff Lindner, the meteorologist for Harris County in Texas, said at a news conference Saturday afternoon that temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s are expected Sunday night into Monday morning.
“It will be extremely cold outside,” Lindner said.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, warned of severe weather and heavy rain throughout the day and bitter cold starting Sunday night.
The cold snap led to the cancellation of several Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced Friday that the parade and march scheduled to take place on Monday will not happen. City leaders will instead have a small recognition at the MLK monument on Monday morning because of the extreme weather conditions, she said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott made a similar announcement.
“Baltimore, with the severe winter weather forecasted for this weekend, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s MLK Day parade out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our participants and spectators,” he wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your understanding and support.”