Ice storm brings snow, sleet and freezing rain to mid-Atlantic and Northeast; more than 100 million under winter storm alerts

Winter Storm Brings Snow And Ice From Midwest To Northeast SOMERSET, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 6: Traffic moves through the mountains surrounded by iced trees Thursday morning after freezing rain fell on the area Wednesday night before heading east on February 6, 2025 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Millions of people have been put on alert as the storm moves into New England. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

A winter storm that brought snow, sleet and freezing rain to a large swath of the Midwest swept into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Thursday, causing treacherous travel conditions, prompting school delays and closures and potential power outages for millions of Americans.

More than 100 million people across 22 states were under winter weather advisories late Wednesday, as a wintry mix snarled commutes in major cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.

The National Weather Service issued ice storm warnings for portions of West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania through noon Thursday.

How much snow and ice is expected?

Up to a quarter inch or more of ice is possible in western Maryland, West Virginia and central and southern Pennsylvania, the weather service said.

Up to a half inch is possible for parts of the central Appalachians north through Pennsylvania and southern New York.

One to three inches of snow was expected in parts of northeastern Pennsylvania, eastern New York, northern Connecticut, western and central Massachusetts, as well as Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, with up to 6 inches or more possible in higher elevations.

What makes ice storms so dangerous?

Ice accumulation can make for hazardous road conditions almost instantly.

"A light glaze of ice can create treacherous driving conditions on bridges, highways and ramps in a matter of seconds," AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter explained.

Ice also weighs down trees and power lines, increasing the risk of power outages.

“A half inch of ice accumulation can add 500 pounds of extra weight or more to power lines,” Porter said. “Tree branches coated in ice can snap and fall on power lines.”

And the same areas affected by the latest winter storm could face such outages, as the ice and freezing rain will be followed by cold, gusty winds.

Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are expected across the Great Lakes on Thursday, and gusts in excess of 30 mph are possible across the Northeast Friday.

Flooding, ‘thunder ice’ and a possible tornado

The ice storm wasn’t the only severe weather event impacting the country. Tornado warnings were issued for parts of Kentucky on Thursday as a powerful line of thunderstorms rolled through the Bluegrass State.

The National Weather Service said it was assessing the damage from a possible tornado that reportedly touched down in Hart County, south of Louisville.

There were also multiple reports of “ping pong to golfball size hail,” the weather service said.

Heavy rains caused flooding in both Kentucky and West Virginia, which was also impacted by the ice storm.

And residents in several states, including Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, reported witnessing "thunder ice" — or freezing rain accompanied by flashes of lightning.

Stormy start to February

The ice storm is just the start of what forecasters say could be a stormy February .

Behind this system is a second winter storm that could bring snow and ice from the upper Midwest and Great Lakes to parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast beginning on Saturday.

A third storm is possible early next week, AccuWeather said, with “the potential of colder air and more moisture that could bring snow and icy impacts to a larger area.”

And February is historically the month with the most snowstorms in the Northeast. According to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, more "high-impact" snowstorms occur in February than in any other month.

There are, however, signs that spring is on its way — even for those dealing with ice and snow.

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