A massive winter storm is wreaking havoc across the United States, affecting over 60 million residents from Nebraska to the East Coast. As of Sunday night, the storm has resulted in over 1,700 flight cancellations and more than 7,000 delays, according to FlightAware. With severe weather conditions anticipated for the coming days, authorities are responding to numerous incidents on the road and declaring states of emergency in several regions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has highlighted that parts of Upstate New York have already recorded over 30 inches of snow. The storm is expected to bring travel to a standstill in major cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham stated, “Over a dozen states are forecast to be impacted by one or more aspects of this storm.”
States like New Jersey and Kansas are taking proactive measures. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency for seven counties, while Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has announced a state of disaster. These declarations are aimed at facilitating emergency responses and ensuring public safety.
As the storm progresses, officials report that troopers have responded to nearly 600 stranded drivers and 285 crashes as of late Sunday afternoon. The severity of the weather has prompted authorities to warn residents about hazardous travel conditions. Meteorologist Rich Bann from the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center noted, “But this thing has multiple hazards from heavy snows in the Plains to significant icing covering roads farther south.” He added, “It'll be nearly impossible to drive in some areas.”
The anticipated weather pattern is expected to bring daytime temperatures that are 10 to 20 degrees below average across the Great Plains to the East Coast. AccuWeather has warned that temperatures could dip 12 to 25 degrees below normal for early January in much of central and eastern United States for the upcoming week. Meteorologist Alex Duffus remarked, “Should the cold wave evolve to its full potential, maximum temperature departures could plunge 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average from the northern Plains and Midwest to the interior Southeast.”
In terms of snowfall, Erie, Pennsylvania has already experienced over 17 inches of snow as of Sunday morning. A wide swath of the nation, ranging from Nebraska and Kansas through Ohio, Indiana, southwestern Pennsylvania, and northwestern Virginia, could see snow accumulation between one inch to a foot. Some mountain areas could experience wind gusts reaching 100 mph, further complicating travel conditions.
Amtrak has also felt the impact of the storm, canceling more than two dozen trains in the Midwest and East on Sunday and over 50 trains scheduled for Monday. Meanwhile, Cincinnati Public Schools announced closures for Monday as snow is expected to continue overnight into the start of the school week.
The storm's effects are already being felt in various states. The weather service's office in Little Rock, Arkansas confirmed that a tornado occurred in Lincoln County on Sunday. Multiple tornado watches were also set to expire Sunday night in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
With significant snowfall and dangerously low temperatures on the horizon, local authorities are urging residents to stay indoors if possible. The Virginia Department of Transportation reminded residents, “Today is the day, Virginia,” emphasizing the need for caution during the storm.
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