A massive winter storm swept through the United States on Monday, delivering snow, ice, and plunging temperatures from the central and southern regions to the East Coast. The extreme weather led to states of emergency in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri, as authorities braced for widespread disruption.
Major highways in Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana were covered in snow and ice, prompting the activation of the Indiana National Guard to aid stranded motorists. Snow accumulations of up to 8 inches (20 cm) and wind gusts reaching 45 mph (72 kph) were forecast in several areas.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas to New Jersey, cautioning that some regions might see 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 agency stated.
In Missouri, residents like Gary Wright braved icy conditions to clear vehicles and prepare for the storm, while finding creative ways to navigate the challenges posed by the freezing weather.
The storm was driven by a polar vortex, a mass of frigid Arctic air that plunged southward, bringing record-breaking cold. Researchers suggest that disruptions to the polar vortex are becoming more frequent due to the rapidly warming Arctic.
School closures affected thousands of students across Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, where Jefferson County Public Schools canceled all classes and activities for nearly 100,000 students. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, closed government offices, and urged residents to stay home.
“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 Charleston, West Virginia, authorities advised against travel as snowfall created treacherous conditions. Indiana State Police highlighted the difficulty of maintaining clear roads, with Sgt. Todd Ringle noting, “It’s snowing so hard, the snow plows go through and then within a half hour the roadways are completely covered again.”
Kansas experienced up to 10 inches (25 cm) of snow, with totals in parts of the state and northern Missouri expected to exceed 14 inches (36 cm). Louisville, Kentucky, recorded 7.7 inches (19.5 cm) on Sunday, breaking a record set in 1910.
As the storm moved eastward into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic states, freezing temperatures extended as far south as Florida. Strong winds downed trees in parts of the Deep South, adding to the storm’s widespread impact.
Residents across the affected areas were urged to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as authorities worked to manage the storm’s aftermath.
