A powerful winter storm swept across the US on Monday, bringing snow, ice, and plummeting temperatures from central and southern states to the East Coast. The extreme weather prompted a state of emergency across several states, including Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri, in anticipation of the severe weather.
Major roads in Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana were blanketed in snow and ice, with the Indiana National Guard activated to assist stranded motorists. Up to 8 inches (20 centimetres) of snow were expected in some areas, along with wind gusts reaching 45 mph (72 kph).
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri to New Jersey, cautioning that some regions could experience their heaviest snowfall in over a decade.
“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the weather service reported.
In Missouri, Gary Wright and his husband scraped ice off their SUV in a slippery parking lot. Wright, who planned to work remotely on Monday, used the chore as an excuse to enjoy some time in the snow while searching for suitable boots for their older dogs reluctant to walk on the icy ground.
The polar vortex, a mass of ultra-cold air typically contained near the North Pole, drove the severe cold as it plunged southward. Studies suggest that a fast-warming Arctic contributes to the increasing frequency of polar vortex disruptions.
School closures began across Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, with Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky cancelling all classes and activities for nearly 100,000 students. Authorities in Kentucky reported over 600 stranded motorists and numerous car accidents across the state.
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, closed government buildings, and urged residents to stay indoors.
“We see far too many wrecks out there for people that do not have to be on the roads, so I want to ask: Stay inside,” Beshear warned.
Virginia State Police reported 135 crashes on Sunday, while in Charleston, West Virginia, snowfall led authorities to urge residents to avoid travel. Indiana State Police issued similar warnings as snow completely covered portions of major highways, making it difficult for plows to maintain clear roads.
“It’s snowing so hard, the snow plows go through and then within a half hour the roadways are completely covered again,” said Sgt. Todd Ringle.
Kansas saw up to 10 inches (25 centimetres) of snow, with totals expected to exceed 14 inches (36 centimetres) in parts of the state and northern Missouri. Louisville, Kentucky, recorded 7.7 inches (19.5 centimetres) on Sunday, breaking a record set in 1910.
The storm was expected to move into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic states on Monday, with freezing temperatures forecast to reach as far south as Florida. Winds downed trees in parts of the Deep South as the storm intensified over the weekend.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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