Here's Why This Winter Storm is Dangerous

December 20, 2022
Jeff Huffman

Imagine the arrival of a squall line; the darkening skies, sudden blast of wind, and deluge of rain.

This is how the onset of the pre-Christmas winter storm will be experienced. But instead, it will be a sudden drop in temperature and bursts of heavy snow accompanying the sudden blast of wind.

This is a dangerous winter storm. And here's why.

Commodity weather apps and traditional snowfall maps won't do it justice. Roads will go from dry and mild to snow-covered and treacherous in a matter of just a few miles or minutes. All while millions of Americans are trying to reach their holiday destination before the weekend. This is especially true for motorists heading west or north into the storm.

I will summarize the most dangerous routes to avoid, followed by a "deadline to arrival" day and time for your destination.

Suggested Routes to Avoid

There won't be a lot of rain or a big warm-up ahead of this storm in most areas. Snow events in the Ozarks and lower Ohio Valley are usually a changeover event, with a gradual drop in temperature as the precipitation winds down. Instead, temperatures with this front will drop more than 20 degrees in an hour, and winds will gust over 40 mph as snow picks up rapidly. Visibilities could be less than 1/8th of a mile for several hours after the passage of the front.

Here is an example of what this will look like on a graph for Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Thursday.

The following interstate routes will most likely experience something similar when the front arrives. Suggested time of arrivals for select cities are available in the following section.

  • I-24 from Nashville to Illinois
  • I-35 north of Oklahoma City
  • I-40 through Tennessee and NW Arkansas
  • I-55 north of Memphis
  • I-64 through Kentucky
  • I-65 north of Nashville
  • I-70 from Pittsburgh to Denver
  • All roads in MO, IL, IA, IN, NE, MN, WI, OH and MI

Deadlines to Destination for Safe Arrival

Motorists who are traveling west, northwest, or southwest along the interstates mentioned above are at much greater risk of getting stranded. That is, if you don't leave in time to BEAT the Siberia-like onslaught.

That's why I've created a map with deadlines to your destination.

Please note: If you are traveling east, which is the same motion as the storm, you will likely need to plan on arriving 4 to 6 hours sooner than displayed on the map above.

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