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An arctic blast is battering the southern US as a brutal winter storm blows from the Ohio River Valley to the mid-Atlantic on Sunday overnight into Monday.
The storm has disrupted travel, bringing heavy snow, ice and wind to the eastern two-thirds of the US. Hundreds of flights have been canceled across airports in the Midwest, and officials in several states are pleading with residents to keep off the roads unless there’s an emergency. Widespread power outages are likely.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” the NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center said in a statement.
Meanwhile, arctic air is blowing into the southern US, bringing single-digit “feels like” temperatures to much of Texas and causing officials to issue a freeze watch in Florida.
Severe thunderstorms are also barreling through the Mid-South, prompting tornado watches in areas of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas Sunday afternoon.
Many states, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia, issued states of emergency ahead of the storm. Washington, D.C. is also under a snow emergency alert as of Sunday afternoon.
“This winter storm will likely cause significant disruption and dangerous conditions on our roads and could cause significant power outages – just 24 hours before it gets dangerously cold,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a statement.
In pictures: Kentucky buried under winter storm
Katie Hawkinson6 January 2025 11:00
Watch: Multiple vehicles slide off Kansas City highway during winter storm
Katie Hawkinson6 January 2025 09:30
Mapped: Snowfall predictions across US as winter storm batters several states
Katie Hawkinson6 January 2025 08:00
Video: See conditions around Lexington as the city is hit by a winter storm
Katie Hawkinson6 January 2025 06:30
Watch: DC mayor declares snow emergency ahead of major winter storm
Katie Hawkinson6 January 2025 05:01
Schools and government offices to remain closed in Philadelphia
Schools and government offices have been ordered to remain closed in Philadelphia with more snow expected on Monday.
The School District of Philadelphia said it will remain closed Monday due to the expected winter storm.
Philadelphia is expected to see seven inches of snow Monday morning with temperature likely to drop to -6C.
Shweta Sharma6 January 2025 05:00
Nearly 150,000 power outages in worst-hit US states
Severe weather has left nearly 150,000 residents without electricity in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana and Kentucky, according to Poweroutage.US.
Kentucky suffered the most power outages with 52,754 remaining without electricity.
Heavy snowfall has brought down trees, snapping power lines and blocking roads, further complicating restoration efforts.
Shweta Sharma6 January 2025 04:36
Flights cancelled as arctic blast causes travel chaos
Heavy snow and freezing rain are causing travel chaos for millions of commuters across the US, as well as in parts of Europe and the UK.
In the US more than 1,000 flights were cancelled and over 3,000 were delayed due to the sweeping wintry weather conditions yesterday.
The Kansas City international airport temporarily halted flight operations in the afternoon due to ice.
Dozens of flights were delayed, including a charter jet transporting the Kansas City Chiefs, before the runways reopened.
Kansas also shut down all state highways due to “impassable” conditions, according to the state’s Transportation Department. The closures included roughly 220 miles (354kms) of the state’s main artery, Interstate 70, from the Missouri border into central Kansas.
Hundreds of car accidents were reported across Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky. In Kentucky, a state trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries after his patrol car was struck on Interstate 65.
In Missouri, the highway patrol reported that at least 600 motorists were stranded.
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, who declared a state emergency ahead of the storm, said state buildings would be closed Monday.
“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. Stay safe with your family,” the governor said.
Virginia State Police reported at least 135 crashes as the storm entered the state Sunday. A handful of injuries were reported.
Shweta Sharma6 January 2025 03:45
Seven US states declare emergencies
Seven US states have declared whole or partial states of emergency as a wintry blast of snow, ice and wind is expected to roil the region with the heaviest snowfall and lowest temperatures in over a decade.
More than 60 million Americans across 30 US states are under weather alerts, bracing for heavy snow and bitter cold on Monday.
Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri declared states of emergency, while New Jersey declared an emergency for several counties including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said bone-chilling arctic air is set to move in behind the storm front, with daytime temperatures on Monday and Tuesday predicted to be 10 to 20 degrees F below average from the Great Plains to the East Coast.
Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky, where a state trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after his patrol car was hit on Interstate 65. At least 600 motorists were stranded in Missouri, the state’s highway patrol said.
Shweta Sharma6 January 2025 03:35
