Severe Winter Storm Brings Hazardous Conditions Across Central U.S.
New York, The Gulf Observer: A powerful winter storm brought snow, ice, wind, and freezing temperatures to large swathes of the central United States on Sunday, creating treacherous travel conditions and prompting widespread winter weather advisories.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings for Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions were reported, and extended warnings to New Jersey for Monday and early Tuesday. Heavy snow blanketed major roadways across Kansas, western Nebraska, and parts of Indiana, with accumulations of at least 8 inches expected, particularly north of Interstate 70.
“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the NWS stated.
The storm disrupted travel across the Midwest, with Indiana State Police urging residents to avoid driving as snow overwhelmed plowing efforts on Interstate 64, Interstate 69, and U.S. Route 41. “It’s snowing so hard, the snow plows go through and then within a half hour the roadways are completely covered again,” said Sgt. Todd Ringle.
Kansas faced severe disruptions, with central sections of Interstate 70 closed by Saturday afternoon after roughly 10 inches of snow accumulated in some areas. Snow and sleet totals were predicted to exceed 14 inches in parts of Kansas and northern Missouri.
In upstate New York, a lake-effect snow event left parts of the region buried under more than 3 feet of snow, with conditions expected to persist into late Sunday.
Polar Vortex Impact and Widespread Advisories
Approximately 63 million people in the U.S. were under winter weather advisories, watches, or warnings on Sunday, according to Bob Oravec of the NWS. The storm, fueled in part by a polar vortex, brought plunging temperatures that were forecast to reach as far south as Florida, where a hard freeze is expected.
The polar vortex, a mass of ultra-cold air typically confined to the North Pole, occasionally stretches southward, delivering intense cold to regions across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Studies suggest that a fast-warming Arctic may be contributing to the increasing frequency of such events.
Outlook
The storm is forecast to move into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic states on Sunday and Monday, further disrupting travel and daily activities. With winter storm warnings and advisories still in effect, residents are urged to stay informed and exercise caution as the weather system continues its path.
