A major winter storm is currently threatening a 2,100-mile stretch of the United States, spanning from the Northwest to the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic region, and East Coast, bringing life-threatening weather conditions including heavy snow, blizzards, and ice. The storm has already caused power outages and transportation disruptions in multiple areas.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that, “For some areas, this may be the largest snowfall in over a decade.”
As of Sunday morning, Erie, Pennsylvania has seen over 17 inches of snow. According to AccuWeather, Rome, New York has experienced nearly 2 feet of snow. Over the past few days, parts of upstate New York have received over 30 inches of snow.
Arlington and the Washington D.C. area are expected to be hit by the storm on Sunday night. The weather service warns that total snow and sleet accumulations could reach 5 to 9 inches, with some isolated areas possibly seeing 10 to 12 inches.
Some areas may also experience ice accumulations of a quarter of an inch or more, especially in southern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and almost the entire state of Kentucky.
More than 60 million people across the U.S. are under winter weather alerts, including blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings, and ice storm warnings. Significant impacts are expected between Interstates 50 and 70.
Prior to the storm’s arrival, governors of Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri declared states of emergency, while Maryland’s governor declared a state of “readiness.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated in a press release that the winter storm could make road conditions hazardous, disrupt transportation, and potentially lead to widespread power outages.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin advised residents on Sunday not to travel, citing the expected magnitude of the storm.
“I encourage all Virginians, visitors, and travelers to stay vigilant, monitor the weather forecasts, and prepare now for any potential impacts,” the governor said on Friday.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s office indicated in a news release on Saturday that the state is preparing for the storm, which “may impact roads and transportation hubs, and could result in significant snow accumulation in parts of the state.”
On Saturday morning, the Wichita area in Kansas was hit by freezing rain, leading to icy road conditions. Due to multiple traffic accidents, there was significant strain on emergency resources, with police temporarily closing parts of Interstate 70 in Kansas and reopening some sections on Sunday morning.
The Kansas Department of Transportation advised drivers to reduce speed, stay alert, make necessary preparations while driving, and provide safe working space for rescue personnel.
Travel chaos also ensued in Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) received 668 calls for assistance and responded to 176 accidents since Saturday afternoon. MSHP strongly urged individuals to avoid travel until the storm passes.
The National Weather Service issued warnings for the dangerous storm.
“The storm is still developing,” said meteorologist Rich Bann from the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, warning of “multiple hazards, from heavy snow in the plains to severe icing on southern roads.”
According to data from poweroutage.us, tens of thousands of homes were without power in Missouri and Texas at the time of publication.
FlightAware data revealed that as of Sunday afternoon Eastern Time, over 90% of departures and 85% of arrivals at Kansas City International Airport had been canceled. The airport had reopened its runways after temporarily halting flight operations on Saturday due to icing.
By Sunday afternoon, over half of the inbound and outbound flights at St. Louis Lambert International Airport were canceled according to FlightAware.
At Columbia Regional Airport in Missouri, American Airlines did not schedule any flights on Sunday.
“Due to worsening weather conditions, American Airlines has not scheduled any commercial flights to depart from or arrive at Columbia Regional Airport on January 5 (Sunday),” said the airport in a statement released on Sunday morning.
(This article referenced reports from CNN, USA Today, and Fox News.)