Mother Nature is bringing another blast of frigid air across 11 states, indicating that, while spring is legally here, it doesn’t feel like it yet. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a new round of winter storm and freeze warnings on Wednesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 9, cautioning locals to remain vigilant.
Even though April is traditionally a warm month, temperatures from Indiana to Pennsylvania are expected to be significantly lower than typical. With the cold weather comes the possibility of snow once again. So, despite the calendar indicates that it is spring, you would never know in certain parts of the country.
11 States Getting a Late Round of Cold Weather, Snow and Winter Storm Warnings in April
Winter storm and freeze warnings have been issued in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. According to the NWS, travel in these places may be dangerous due to freezing temperatures, strong winds, and snow.
According to NWS weather specialists, temperatures are dropping into the mid-to-upper 20s in sections of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, with some pockets dropping even lower. It’s not simply a brief blast of frigid air, either. While some regions will briefly thaw during the day, temperatures will return to below freezing overnight on Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10. That kind of back-and-forth tends to do the greatest damage, causing roads to refreeze, walkways to become slick, and anything left outside too early in the season to be ruined.
Further east, the cold grips Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. It’s not a headline-grabbing chill, but it piles up quickly, especially for early crops and anyone who packed away their winter clothes too early.
Up the coast, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware are in the same boat. Temperatures will flirt with freezing, drop below it, and then remain there just long enough to pose issues. These places may also receive a light dusting of snow.
Gusts of wind, combined with ice and remaining moisture, might make travel difficult in certain areas. So, as usual, exercise caution.
Les Schwab Tires advises against driving on ice, adding that “when icy roadways are involved, the most important thing you can do to avoid an auto accident is not drive at all.” So, if in doubt, stay in.
The good news is that warmer weather is expected to arrive by the middle of April, according to NOAA research, so the risky travel conditions will not persist long.