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| Major winter storm in US threatens millions with snow, ice and brutal cold | Major winter storm in US threatens millions with snow, ice and brutal cold |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| State of emergencies issues in several states and cities as eastern two-thirds of country to experience dangerous cold | State of emergencies issues in several states and cities as eastern two-thirds of country to experience dangerous cold |
| A major winter storm was sweeping across the central US on Sunday, forecasters said, bringing with it a dreaded combination of snow, ice and plunging temperatures. | |
| The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri – where blizzard conditions are expected – to New Jersey. | The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri – where blizzard conditions are expected – to New Jersey. |
| In the two states where blizzard warnings were in effect, travel “could be very difficult to impossible”, with snow whipped around by high winds reducing visibility, the NWS said. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. | In the two states where blizzard warnings were in effect, travel “could be very difficult to impossible”, with snow whipped around by high winds reducing visibility, the NWS said. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. |
| “Do not travel unless necessary!” the NWS said. | “Do not travel unless necessary!” the NWS said. |
| The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually stays penned up around the north pole, spinning like a top. But sometimes it escapes or stretches down to the US, Europe or Asia – and that’s when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold. | The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually stays penned up around the north pole, spinning like a top. But sometimes it escapes or stretches down to the US, Europe or Asia – and that’s when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold. |
| Studies show a fast-warming Arctic gets some of the blame for the increase in polar vortex stretching or wandering. | Studies show a fast-warming Arctic gets some of the blame for the increase in polar vortex stretching or wandering. |
| By Saturday evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, especially along and north of Interstate 70. Part of the interstate was closed in central Kansas by the afternoon. Total snow and sleet accumulations for parts of Kansas and northern Missouri were predicted to be as high as 14in (35.6cm ). | By Saturday evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, especially along and north of Interstate 70. Part of the interstate was closed in central Kansas by the afternoon. Total snow and sleet accumulations for parts of Kansas and northern Missouri were predicted to be as high as 14in (35.6cm ). |
| The storm was forecast to move then into the Ohio Valley, with severe travel disruptions expected. It will reach the mid-Atlantic states on Sunday into Monday, with a hard freeze even expected as far south as Florida. | The storm was forecast to move then into the Ohio Valley, with severe travel disruptions expected. It will reach the mid-Atlantic states on Sunday into Monday, with a hard freeze even expected as far south as Florida. |
| Severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, were also possible ahead of the storm system’s cold front as it crosses the Lower Mississippi Valley, the National Weather Service warned. | Severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, were also possible ahead of the storm system’s cold front as it crosses the Lower Mississippi Valley, the National Weather Service warned. |
| Parts of upstate New York saw 3ft (0.9 meters) or more of snow from a lake effect event expected to last until late Sunday afternoon. | Parts of upstate New York saw 3ft (0.9 meters) or more of snow from a lake effect event expected to last until late Sunday afternoon. |
| A fire truck, several tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles overturned west of Salina, Kansas. Rigs also jackknifed and went into ditches, state highway patrol trooper Ben Gardner said. | A fire truck, several tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles overturned west of Salina, Kansas. Rigs also jackknifed and went into ditches, state highway patrol trooper Ben Gardner said. |
| He posted a video showing his boots sliding across the highway blacktop like an ice-skating rink. | He posted a video showing his boots sliding across the highway blacktop like an ice-skating rink. |
| “We are in it now,” Gardner said as he drove to the scene of an accident. Online, he begged for prayers and warned that some roadways were nearly impassable. | “We are in it now,” Gardner said as he drove to the scene of an accident. Online, he begged for prayers and warned that some roadways were nearly impassable. |
| Freezing rain in Wichita, Kansas, sent authorities to multiple crashes in the morning, and police urged drivers to stay home if possible and watch out for emergency vehicles. | Freezing rain in Wichita, Kansas, sent authorities to multiple crashes in the morning, and police urged drivers to stay home if possible and watch out for emergency vehicles. |
| Governors in neighboring Missouri and nearby Arkansas declared states of emergency. Whiteout conditions threatened to make driving dangerous to impossible, forecasters warned, and heighten the risk of becoming stranded. | Governors in neighboring Missouri and nearby Arkansas declared states of emergency. Whiteout conditions threatened to make driving dangerous to impossible, forecasters warned, and heighten the risk of becoming stranded. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Several businesses closed across the Kansas City area, and the school district in suburban Independence, Missouri, said it might need to cancel classes for one or more days. | Several businesses closed across the Kansas City area, and the school district in suburban Independence, Missouri, said it might need to cancel classes for one or more days. |
| Starting Monday the eastern two-thirds of the country will experience dangerous, bone-chilling cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25F (7 to 14C) below normal as the polar vortex stretches down from the high Arctic. | Starting Monday the eastern two-thirds of the country will experience dangerous, bone-chilling cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25F (7 to 14C) below normal as the polar vortex stretches down from the high Arctic. |
| In Chicago on Saturday, temperatures hovered in the teens and around 0F in Minneapolis, while dropping to -14F in International Falls, Minnesota, on the Canadian border. | In Chicago on Saturday, temperatures hovered in the teens and around 0F in Minneapolis, while dropping to -14F in International Falls, Minnesota, on the Canadian border. |
| The Virginia governor, Glenn Youngkin, declared a state of emergency Friday evening ahead of the storm and encouraged residents to vote early on Saturday ahead of the state’s special elections Tuesday in a statement on X. | The Virginia governor, Glenn Youngkin, declared a state of emergency Friday evening ahead of the storm and encouraged residents to vote early on Saturday ahead of the state’s special elections Tuesday in a statement on X. |
| Similar declarations were issued in Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and multiple cities in central Illinois. | Similar declarations were issued in Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and multiple cities in central Illinois. |
| In Louisiana, crews were racing to find a manatee that was spotted in Lake Pontchartrain before the cold temperatures hit. The manatee was first seen New Year’s Eve in the Mandeville area, north of New Orleans. | In Louisiana, crews were racing to find a manatee that was spotted in Lake Pontchartrain before the cold temperatures hit. The manatee was first seen New Year’s Eve in the Mandeville area, north of New Orleans. |
| While manatees are common in the area during the summer, winter sightings are a concern since they can begin to experience cold stress symptoms when the temperature falls below 68F. | While manatees are common in the area during the summer, winter sightings are a concern since they can begin to experience cold stress symptoms when the temperature falls below 68F. |
| “We are doing everything we can to get our hands on this animal,” said Gabriella Harlamert, stranding and rehab coordinator for New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium Rescue. | “We are doing everything we can to get our hands on this animal,” said Gabriella Harlamert, stranding and rehab coordinator for New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium Rescue. |