The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning residents of New Mexico and North Dakota about harsh winter weather throughout their states as arctic blasts are set to hit parts of the country heading into the weekend.
Why It Matters
Winter storms pose major risks to health and safety, putting stricken residents in danger due to extreme cold and often paralyzing travel. Homeless people and others outdoors are particularly at risk for conditions like hypothermia and frostbite when temperatures drop below freezing.
What To Know
NWS issued high wind watches and warnings for multiple parts of New Mexico on Thursday, while also issuing a special weather statement for most of the state due to arctic blasts that are expected to arrive in the state over the weekend and continue into early next week.
“An arctic cold front is set to arrive in eastern New Mexico late Friday into Saturday, followed by a second surge of frigid air arriving on Monday,” the special weather statement reads. “This will lead to a long-duration of very cold, sub-freezing temperatures with bitter wind chills, especially in eastern and northeastern New Mexico. This will create a high risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone outside.”
“Light snow will accompany these harsh cold fronts, creating areas of slick travel and reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow,” it continues. “Residents, especially those in eastern New Mexico should begin making preparations for the cold, including precautions for people, plants, pipes, and pets.”
In western and central North Dakota, an NWS wind advisory warned locals that gusts of up to 50 miles per hour were possible from Thursday night until 7 p.m. Mountain Time and 8 p.m. Central Time on Friday night. While only a “low chance of snow” was predicted, NWS cautioned that “visibility may become poor” in areas where snow does fall.
Meanwhile, a huge area of northeastern and southeastern North Dakota is under a winter weather advisory until 9 p.m. Central Time on Friday, with snow showers expected to accompany winds of up to 55 miles per hour.
“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the advisory states. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning and evening commutes. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines.”
What People Are Saying
NWS meteorologist Matt DeMaria, in comments to Newsweek concerning the arctic blasts in New Mexico: “It’s not uncommon for us to get these arctic intrusions this time of year, but that being said, it can still be very impactful.”
AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok, in an article published in late December: “This could end up being the coldest January since 2011 for the U.S. as a whole… The key here is that the Arctic outbreak will involve many days and not just be a quick one-to-three-day event.”
What Happens Next
The extreme weather conditions in New Mexico and North Dakota are expected to largely improve by next week, although long-term forecasts for both states are unclear. Additional cold weather and extreme weather events are likely to continue in many states throughout winter.
Local and regional forecasts should always be consulted for the most up-to-date information on winter weather conditions.
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