A powerful winter storm swept across a vast area of the United States on Sunday, affecting more than 60 million people from Kansas to New Jersey. Over a dozen states were placed under winter weather warnings and advisories as snow, ice, and frigid conditions blanketed the region.
The storm advanced toward the mid-Atlantic, with Washington, D.C., preparing for significant snowfall and sub-zero temperatures on Monday. Coincidentally, the same day marks a significant political event—the formal certification of Republican Donald Trump’s election as president by the U.S. Congress.
Despite the weather, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson assured on Fox News that the storm would not hinder lawmakers from performing their duties. However, federal offices in Washington, D.C., will remain closed on Monday, as announced by the Office of Personnel Management.
Severe Weather in the Midwest
Kansas and parts of northwestern Missouri faced some of the harshest conditions, with blizzard-like weather severely impacting travel. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that major roadways, including the crucial Interstate 70 in Kansas, were coated in snow and ice, leading officials to urge residents to stay off the roads. The interstate remained closed for much of Sunday due to dangerous driving conditions.
In Missouri, state police took action along a 50-mile shutdown of Interstate 29, assisting stranded motorists. By late Sunday afternoon, troopers had responded to nearly 600 drivers stranded by the storm and handled 285 crashes, the agency said on X.
Snowfall, Ice, and School Closures
The storm’s reach extended across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic, with snowfalls ranging from six to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) expected in areas stretching from southern Ohio to Washington, D.C. The hazardous conditions prompted hundreds of schools to preemptively announce closures for Monday. Public schools in cities such as Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Washington, and Philadelphia were among those affected.
Freezing rain and sleet compounded the storm’s dangers in northern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. The NWS warned that these areas would experience “hazardous ice accumulations,” adding to the challenges faced by residents.
Meanwhile, the storm’s back end brought severe thunderstorms to the southern states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, with some of these storms capable of producing tornadoes.
Flight Disruptions and Emergency Declarations
The severe weather caused extensive travel disruptions, particularly in the aviation sector. Hundreds of flights were canceled, with more than 275 cancellations reported in Kansas City and St. Louis alone, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.
Governors in multiple states, including Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Virginia, declared states of emergency to address the storm’s impacts and coordinate relief efforts.
Arctic Air to Follow the Storm
While the storm is expected to move offshore by Monday night, it will leave behind a wave of bitterly cold arctic air. Daytime temperatures on Monday and Tuesday are predicted to plunge 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average across regions spanning from the Great Plains to the East Coast, the NWS reported.
This winter storm has already disrupted millions of lives and is set to continue its impact, both through lingering cold air and the challenges left in its wake.
