Millions of Americans are preparing for a significant winter storm set to bring heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures unseen in over a decade to parts of the country. States such as Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia have declared states of emergency as the storm, propelled by a polar vortex, shifts eastward after impacting the central United States. Southern states like Mississippi and Florida are also bracing for hazardous cold and treacherous conditions, as warned by the National Weather Service.
A polar vortex, characterized by low pressure and cold air swirling around the Earth’s polar regions like a wheel, can occasionally waver, causing a lobe to move southward and envelop portions of North America in extreme cold temperatures. As the storm progresses eastward, approximately 60 million individuals across 30 states from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic are under weather advisories, anticipating heavy snowfall and potentially crippling ice over the next three days.
Travel disruptions have already been observed, with Kansas City International Airport temporarily closing on Saturday for runway clearing, resulting in flight delays. An 18-mile section of Interstate 70 in Kansas was shut down due to blizzard conditions threatening significant snow accumulation and strong wind gusts. The National Weather Service predicts historic snowfall in parts of Kansas and Missouri, with over 15 inches expected in certain areas—the heaviest snowfall in the region in ten years.
The NWS cautions of significant disruptions to daily life, including dangerous driving conditions and widespread closures, making travel extremely challenging through Sunday. Cities like Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis have taken precautions by treating roads and establishing warming centers in preparation for the storm.
Additionally, a blizzard warning has been issued for most of Kansas and a large portion of Missouri, affecting over 2 million people. This alert signifies reduced visibility and high winds, with severe weather risks projected across the lower Mississippi Valley, potentially leading to tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail.
As the storm progresses eastward, major metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia are gearing up for snow and ice, with parts of Virginia expecting significant snow accumulation. The storm’s impact is anticipated to reach the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians by Monday, with snowy conditions persisting until Tuesday morning.
Across the country, weather-related flight delays have been significant, particularly in Denver International Airport, where a considerable number of departures were delayed on Saturday. As the storm continues its path, millions of Americans are bracing for record-low temperatures and challenging weather conditions.
FlightAware. Major airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest, and United, are waiving change fees ahead of likely flight disruptions. In anticipation of a significant drop in temperatures across the eastern two-thirds of the country, highs are expected to plummet 10 to 25 degrees below average, starting this Sunday and lasting through Friday. Highs will vary, with temperatures ranging from the single digits and teens across the Plains and Midwest, to the 20s and 30s in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
The most extreme temperatures are forecasted for the northern Plains, where overnight lows could plummet as low as minus 20 degrees, with wind chill values potentially reaching around minus 40 degrees. Cold weather advisories have been issued, spanning from eastern Montana through Minnesota in preparation for the impending frigid conditions.
