ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A large portion of the United States is grappling with severe winter weather as the polar vortex, which shifted south over the weekend, continues to affect regions east of the Rocky Mountains. This harsh weather is creating hazardous road conditions, leading to numerous school closures, widespread power outages, and significant flight cancellations.
The massive storm system is impacting normally mild areas, causing tree damage in some southern states, foreboding freezing temperatures in Florida, and prompting residents in Dallas to don their winter gear. In Washington, D.C., heavy snowfall coincided with the certification of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. The unique opportunity of snow in the capital drew crowds engaging in snowball fights in front of the iconic Washington Monument, with flags lowered to honor former President Jimmy Carter.
In Louisville, Kentucky, locals like Hugh Ross battled icy conditions in their driveways. Ross described the winter situation as particularly severe due to frozen rain overlaying the snow from the previous day. He shared that breaking the ice required effort to avoid futility in clearing the snow.
Major roads in Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana were coated with ice and snow, prompting the National Guard to assist stranded drivers. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings across Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions included gusts reaching up to 45 mph (72 kph). These alerts also extended to New Jersey, affecting travel and daily activities through early Tuesday.
At Calumet Farm in central Kentucky, thoroughbred horses were sheltered from the elements, unable to roam their pastures, which had turned into dangerous icy surfaces. Farm manager Eddie Kane commented on the conditions, mentioning the significant risk posed by the ice which rendered the fields comparable to a skating rink.
Typically, the polar vortex swirls around the North Pole but can occasionally plunge down into the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Researchers have suggested that the rapid warming of the Arctic is partially responsible for the increased frequency of this phenomenon affecting more regions.
As temperatures began to drop on Monday, significant portions of the eastern U.S. faced bone-chilling cold, with wind chills reported to be 12 to 25 degrees (7 to 14 degrees Celsius) below seasonal averages. Forecasters indicated that the Northeast would experience a prolonged cold snap, reaching as far south as Georgia, with some coastal regions possibly dipping into the low single digits (minus 15 to minus 17 Celsius).
With the brutal weather, numerous school districts across Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas opted to cancel or delay classes, including Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky, which affects nearly 100,000 students. Governor Wes Moore of Maryland declared a state of emergency, prompting school closures and the shutting down of state government offices for the day.
The dangerous conditions led to over 600 stranded motorists in Missouri over the weekend, with numerous accidents reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky. Kentucky’s governor declared a state of emergency, noting the alarming number of vehicle crashes.
In Kansas, tragic incidents included two fatal car accidents during the storm, leading Governor Laura Kelly to close state offices in Topeka. Virginia State Police dealt with approximately 430 crashes over the weekend, with tragic accidents also reported in neighboring West Virginia and North Carolina.
By Monday midday, Maryland state troopers had addressed around 475 service calls, including numerous crashes and abandoned vehicles since early morning.
With more snow and ice predicted, interstate highways in Indiana became treacherous, with state police urging residents to remain indoors. Significant snowfall accumulation was reported, with some areas in Topeka, Kansas recording 14.5 inches (nearly 37 centimeters) by Sunday evening. Kansas City International Airport also shattered a weather record with 11 inches (28 centimeters) of snow.
The Mid-Atlantic region braced for additional snowfall, predicting 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) on Monday, along with dangerously low temperatures expected to continue into the week. Many areas already experienced utility outages, with over 250,000 customers in Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, and Missouri left without power.
In Virginia’s state capital, a power outage interrupted water services, prompting city officials to advise the public to boil tap water before consuming it. Efforts to restore services were underway as officials cautioned residents to conserve water.
Air travel faced significant interruption, with over 2,500 flights canceled and more than 6,500 delayed nationwide as of Monday morning. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport reported cancelation rates of approximately 58% for arrivals and 70% for departures. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport experienced record snowfall, leading to ongoing disruptions at local airports.
