US weather alert: Extreme cold warning issued for these regions; schools delayed in Pittsburgh

A powerful winter storm, the biggest of the seasons set to bring record-setting cold beginning Friday. It will reportedly move across Texas before surging up the East Coast toward major cities like New York and Boston.

Because of strong winds, bitter cold, and heavy snow, parts of the Upper and Mid-Mississippi Valley are under a Blizzard Warning tonight. The National Weather Service (NWS) states that several areas have issued Extreme Cold Watches and Warnings through Saturday. Sub-zero and single-digit temperatures are expected to spread from the Northern Plains on Thursday into the Mid-Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and the Northeast by Sunday.

Over the weekend, more than 175 million people could be affected by snow, rain, sleet, and ice. Around 230 million are expected to experience temperatures at or below 20°F (-7°C), according to Brian Hurley, a senior forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center, reported Bloomberg.

The NWS has issued a winter storm watch spanning more than 1,100 miles (1,770 km), from New Mexico through Tennessee and Alabama. Additional winter weather advisories and warnings extend from North Dakota across the Great Lakes into western New York. Forecasters say at least 222 daily cold-temperature records could be matched or broken through next Tuesday.

Many schools and organisations across the Pittsburgh region have announced delays or changed their schedules for the day as winter weather affects parts of western Pennsylvania, according to CBS News.

The National Weather Service has placed sections of the area under a Winter Weather Advisory, which remains in effect until 10 am Thursday.

3. Catalyst Academy (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

4. Mary of Nazareth Catholic School-White Oak – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

5. Pittsburgh Public Schools (Allegheny) – 2-HR Transportation Delay for non-PPS students

6. Seneca Valley School District (Butler) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday (Modified Kindergarten)

7. St. Paul’s Kidz Korner (Allegheny) – 1 Hour Delay Thursday

8. Urban Pathways K-5 College Charter School (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

9. A.W. Beattie Career Center (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday (No AM Classes)

10. ACLD Tillotson School (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

11. Adelphoi Education at Hartford Heights (Westmoreland) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

12. Albert Gallatin School District (Fayette) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

13. Allegheny Valley School District (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

14. Apollo Ridge School District (Armstrong) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

15. Aquinas Academy-Gibsonia (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

16. Aquinas Academy-Greensburg (Westmoreland) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

17. Armstrong School District (Armstrong) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

18. Avonworth (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Tuesday

19. Baldwin-Whitehall School District (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

20. Belle Vernon-includes St. Sebastian (Westmoreland) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

21. Bethel Park School District (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday (Modified Kindergarten)

22. Bethlehem-Center School District (Washington) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

23. Blessed Francis Seelos Academy (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

24. Blessed Trinity Academy (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

25. Brownsville Area School District (Fayette) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

26. Burrell School District (Westmoreland) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

27. Butler Area School District (Butler) – 2 Hour Delay Tuesday

28. Butler Catholic School (Butler) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

29. Butler Co. Area Vo Tech – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

30. Butler Wesleyan Academy (Butler) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

31. California Area School District (Washington) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

32. Campus School of Carlow University (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

33. Canon-McMillan School District (Washington) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday (Modified Kindergarten)

34. Carlynton School District (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

35. Carmichaels Area School District (Greene) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

36. Central Greene School District (Greene) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

37. Champion Christian School (Westmoreland) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

38. Charleroi Area School District (Washington) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

39. Chartiers-Houston School District (Washington) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

40. Chestnut Ridge Christian Academy (Fayette) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

41. Christ the Divine Teacher Academy (Allegheny) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday

42. Connellsville Area School District (Fayette) – 2 Hour Delay Thursday