A powerful winter storm is causing hazardous conditions across the central U.S., bringing heavy snow, ice, and dangerously cold temperatures. Forecasters predict the storm will continue moving eastward in the coming days. Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service, explained that a polar vortex, typically confined to the North Pole, has stretched into the U.S., bringing bitter cold. Scientists link this phenomenon to a rapidly warming Arctic.
The storm began impacting areas from Kansas to Indiana on Saturday, with snow and sleet accumulations reaching up to 14 inches in some regions. Central Kansas saw part of Interstate 70 shut down due to the dangerous conditions. Meanwhile, parts of upstate New York experienced over three feet of snow from lake effect storms.
Road conditions have become treacherous, leading to numerous crashes. In Kansas, a fire truck, tractor-trailers, and passenger vehicles skidded off roads, while icy conditions in Wichita caused multiple accidents. Officials in Missouri and Arkansas declared states of emergency as whiteout conditions and freezing rain made travel extremely dangerous. Authorities urged residents to stay off the roads, warning that many areas were nearly impassable.
Air travel was also disrupted. The Kansas City International Airport temporarily suspended flights due to icy runways, delaying dozens of departures, including one carrying the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Crews worked through the night to clear runways.
Residents in affected areas are bracing for the storm by stocking up on supplies and staying indoors. Warming centers have opened in churches and libraries, and schools and businesses have closed in preparation for the severe weather.
The cold is expected to intensify across the eastern U.S. early next week, with temperatures dropping 12 to 25 degrees below normal. Cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and International Falls, Minnesota, are already experiencing freezing conditions, while areas as far south as Florida may see a hard freeze.
Officials across multiple states, including Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland, have issued emergency declarations to prepare for the storm. Residents have been asked to remove vehicles from snow routes and to take precautions against the extreme cold. In Louisiana, wildlife rescuers are racing to help a manatee in Lake Pontchartrain, as these animals are vulnerable to cold stress when temperatures drop.
The storm is expected to bring further disruptions as it moves eastward, with significant snow, ice, and freezing temperatures continuing through the weekend.
