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Historic Winter Storm Puts Huge Swath of America on Notice

Winter Storm Elliott is a most unwelcome guest to many households across the country ahead of the holiday weekend.

Eric Mack Contributing Editor
Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries. Eric helps consumers by demystifying solar, battery, renewable energy, energy choice concepts, and also reviews solar installers. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. His encrypted email for tips is ericcmack@protonmail.com.
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Eric Mack
2 min read
A satellite view of Winter Storm Elliott on Dec. 23, 2022.

A satellite view of Winter Storm Elliott on Dec. 23, 2022. 

 NOAA/NESDIS/STAR/GOES-EAST

Temperatures have dropped, snow is flying, flights are canceled and traffic is treacherous or snarled across much of the United States as Winter Storm Elliott pays a holiday visit to more Americans at once than almost any other storm in history. 

The National Weather Service reported Friday morning that over 240 million people, or roughly 72% of the US population, are under some form of winter weather warnings or advisories. That represents "one of the greatest extents of winter weather warnings and advisories ever," according to the NWS.

"Winter weather hazards remain in effect from the Canadian border south to the Rio Grande, Gulf Coast and central Florida Peninsula while spanning from the Pacific Northwest to the Eastern Seaboard."

Forecasts call for freezing rain in the Pacific Northwest, frigid temperatures in the Rockies and heavy snow across the Great Lakes and the Northeast. 

As of Friday, the weather notices included wind chill warnings or advisories that impact 181 million, blizzards for 11 million and winter storm warnings for 58 million, plus ice storm warnings for 500,000. 

A blast of arctic air barreled into the US from the northwest that sent temperatures plummeting by as much as 50 degrees earlier this week. In Denver that swing was 75 degrees between Wednesday and Thursday. 

The Denver International Airport recorded its lowest temperature since 1990 as temperatures plunged below minus 20 Fahrenheit on Thursday. Other regions, including parts of Montana, saw temperatures even colder, while several states recorded blizzard conditions that led to a number of fatal traffic accidents.   

Over 3,700 flights were canceled in the US on Friday, and another 3,000 were delayed, according to FlightAware.com. 

From Austin to Boston, reports came of shoppers clearing out shelves ahead of the holidays -- not of the usual gifts and dishes but rather bottled water. 

If you do plan to travel this weekend, please be sure to check your local forecast and CNET's winter storm cheat sheet.