News

If You Live Here, Get Ready For Winter Storm Jonas

by April Siese

The East Coast is bracing itself for blustery winter weather this weekend, with up to two feet of snow hitting the likes of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Still, even more areas are facing the threat of major snowfall and even thunderstorms. Which states will be affected by Winter Storm Jonas? The storm appears to be forming over the Great Plains in the Midwest and will continue to head east well into the weekend. The National Weather Service is expecting the worst of Jonas to hit New York down through scant sections of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Compared to other East Coast metropolitans, New York City will see the least amount of snow with an estimated total of between eight inches and one foot hitting the city that never sleeps. Philadelphia and Richmond, Virginia, are both expected to get between one foot and a foot and a half of snow. Those two cities are among the "mammoth watch" area of regions to monitor closely for major impact from the storm, according to CNBC. Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as Memphis and Nashville are also included on that list.

Thus, the states that will directly be impacted by snow are as follows: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, and small sections of northern Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas.

All eyes are on the northeastern part of the country as citizens prepare for what's looking more and more like a long weekend indoors. Heading south from the Mid-Atlantic and into the Gulf South, states are facing threats of major thunderstorms as well as potential threats of flooding from Winter Storm Jonas. Both regions are expected to face flight and travel issues given the inclement weather. Small sections of the Midwest will be affected, with accumulating snow hitting southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio in addition to parts of Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. At the most, those regions will get maybe half a foot of powder, according to Accuweather.

Deep southern states including eastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as all of Florida will be hit with torrential downpours on Thursday and Friday. Depending on the severity of Winter Storm Jonas as it continues to bear down on the East Coast, those areas may see a threat of tornadoes. An elevated Mississippi river is also a contributing factor to flooding, as its rise prompted the opening of the Bonnet Carre spillway in Louisiana. 50 million citizens will reportedly be affected by Winter Storm Jonas. Stock up on supplies, track the worsening weather, and hope for the best this weekend.