Expected to bring up to 13 inches of snow

Bread was flying off the shelves, salt was being loaded into trucks and utility workers nervously watched forecasts on Thursday (Jan. 22) as a huge winter storm that could bring catastrophic damage, widespread power outages and bitterly cold weather barreled toward the eastern two-thirds of the U.S.

The massive storm system is expected to bring a crippling ice storm from Texas through parts of the South, potentially around a foot of snow from Oklahoma through Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, and then a punch of bitterly cold air that could drop wind chills to minus-50 degrees in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota.

In the Highlands, a winter storm warning is in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon, with a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain expected. According to the National Weather Service, the Highlands should receive about 7 inches of snow, or up to 13 inches at the high end. There is a 10 percent chance of more than 18 inches, it said.

On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino issued an emergency order restricting travel from 5 a.m. on Sunday to 5 p.m. on Monday and closing county offices on Monday.

Serino's order restricts travel on roads except for emergency vehicles and essential personnel such as medical and health facility personnel; law enforcement and public safety personnel; first responders; utility, maintenance and public works personnel; snow removal, sanding, salting and clearing operations personnel; facility operations persons deemed necessary for plant operations by their employers; and public and government personnel involved in emergency operations. There will be no public bus service on Sunday or Monday, and parks will be closed.

See dutchessny.gov/stormupdates for updates. Anyone in Dutchess County who needs emergency shelter should call 2-1-1 to receive assistance in finding a shelter.

Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne declared a state of emergency effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday and asked people to "stay off the roads during the duration of the storm, allowing county, town and village highway crews, police and fire personnel and other essential service providers to do their jobs."

Forecasters are warning the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival a hurricane. About 160 million people were under winter storm or cold weather watches or warnings — and in many places both.

The storm was expected to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas, with the worst weather moving east into the Deep South before heading up the coast and thumping New England with snow.

Parking Restricted Ahead of Storm

Cold air streaming down from Canada caused Chicago Public Schools and Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa to cancel classes Friday. Wind chills predicted to be as low as minus-35 degrees could cause frostbite within 10 minutes, making it too dangerous to walk to school or wait for the bus.

The cold punch coming after means it will take a while to thaw out, an especially dangerous prospect in places where ice and snow weighs down tree branches and power lines and cuts electricity, perhaps for days. Roads and sidewalks could remain icy well into next week.

Freezing temperatures are expected all the way to Florida, forecasters said.

Advice from New York State

Avoid travel if possible. Expect delays and closures. If you can't avoid traveling: Clean off your vehicle before driving, drive slow and don't use cruise control, leave extra distance between vehicles and don't crowd the plows. Roads can be slick even if they just look wet.

Practice safe shoveling: dress warmly, stay hydrated, move only small amounts of snow and take frequent breaks.

If you are stranded in a vehicle, avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by running the motor for 10 minutes every hour. While your car is running, open the windows slightly for fresh air. Keep your exhaust pipe clear of snow.

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