The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions were reported, with wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph (72 kph). These warnings extended to New Jersey, where snow and ice were expected to continue into early Tuesday.
A powerful winter storm hit the United States early Monday, plunging temperatures, bringing snow, ice, and strong winds, and creating treacherous travel conditions from central and southern states to the East Coast. Schools, government offices, and public services were forced to close across numerous states, while motorists were left stranded and powerless as the storm wreaked havoc.
Severe weather leads to dangerous travel conditions
Snow and ice blanketed major roadways across Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana, causing significant disruptions to travel. In Indiana, the state's National Guard was activated to assist with the rescue of stranded drivers. As of Monday morning, nearly 300,000 customers were without power across Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, and Missouri, according to PowerOutage.us.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions were reported, with wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph (72 kph). These warnings extended to New Jersey, where snow and ice were expected to continue into early Tuesday.
“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the National Weather Service warned.
Decreasing temperatures and wind chills
The winter storm brought with it a surge of polar air, causing temperatures to plummet well below normal. Forecasters predicted that temperatures in the eastern two-thirds of the US could be 12 to 25 degrees (7 to 14 degrees Celsius) below the seasonal average. The Northeast, which had experienced a mild winter so far, was set to face several days of intense cold.
National Weather Service meteorologist Jon Palmer warned that the cold air would likely extend as far south as Georgia, with some areas on the East Coast experiencing single-digit lows. In particular, the bone-chilling wind chills were expected to make conditions feel even colder.
School and government closures
Due to the winter storm, districts in Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas canceled classes on Monday. Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky, which serves nearly 100,000 students, announced the cancellation of all classes and extracurricular activities.
Maryland also declared a state of emergency as the storm advanced. Governor Wes Moore announced that state government offices would be closed on Monday, urging residents to stay off the roads and prepare for potential power outages. “Keeping Marylanders safe is our top priority,” Moore said in a statement.
Car accidents and stranded motorists
The storm's arrival led to hundreds of car accidents and numerous reports of stranded drivers. In Missouri alone, authorities said that over 600 motorists were stuck due to icy roads. In Virginia, state police responded to at least 230 crashes, with over 20 injuries, between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. One fatal crash was reported in West Virginia, although it was unclear whether the storm was a factor.
In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency and urged residents to stay indoors. “We see far too many wrecks out there for people who do not have to be on the roads,” he said. State police and road crews worked overnight to clear snow and ice, but officials warned that icy conditions would persist, particularly in central and northern parts of the state.
Snowfall and record-breaking accumulations
The storm's powerful snowfall set new records across multiple states. In Kansas City, Missouri, 11 inches of snow fell on Sunday, breaking the previous record for the day set in 1962. Louisville, Kentucky, recorded 7.7 inches of snow, shattering the 1910 record for the date. Topeka, Kansas, reported 14.5 inches of snow by Sunday evening.
As the storm moved east, additional snowfalls of 6 to 12 inches were expected, especially in the Mid-Atlantic. Forecasters also predicted dangerously cold temperatures to follow, with nighttime lows dipping into the single digits across the Central Plains and Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. A hard freeze was anticipated as far south as Florida, while trees were downed by high winds in the Deep South.
Air and rail travel disruptions
The winter storm wreaked havoc on air and rail travel. More than 1,400 flights were canceled nationwide, and another 740 were delayed by Monday morning, according to FlightAware. At Washington DC's Ronald Reagan National Airport, nearly 46 percent of arrivals and 59 percent of departures were canceled.
Amtrak, too, experienced widespread cancellations, with more than 20 trains canceled Sunday and more than 40 planned cancellations for Monday. Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari explained the rationale behind the service disruptions: “If local authorities are telling people not to travel, it's counter-intuitive to try to run a full slate of services when people are being told to stay home.”