More than 70 million Americans are under winter weather alerts as a huge winter storm is forecast to bring the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in over a decade.
Much of Canada and 30 US states from Kansas to the East Coast are under weather alerts, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Snowfall of 6-12in (15-30cm) is expected from Ohio to Washington DC.
A state of emergency has been declared in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. Even parts of normally balmy Florida are expected to experience freezing conditions.
Forecasters say the extreme weather is being caused by the polar vortex, an area of cold air that circulates around the Arctic.
Watch: Heavy snow as severe US winter storm moves east
After blanketing the Central Plains, the storm is expected to hit the US East Coast by Sunday evening.
Parts of upstate New York have experienced at least 3ft (91cm) of snow so far.
Washington DC is bracing for between 5-9in of snow. The city’s mayor has declared a snow emergency until at least Sunday evening.
Congress is due to meet on Monday afternoon to certify Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election three months ago, but it is unclear if the foul weather could delay some lawmakers returning to the capital from their constituencies.
The Annapolis area near Baltimore, Maryland, could see 8-12in of snow, the NWS predicts.
Blizzard warnings have been issued in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Parts of northern Missouri have already experienced 14in of sleet and snow, while Kansas has had 10in.
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A cargo jet parked in the snow at Louisville airport on Sunday
“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the NWS said on Sunday.
AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin said: “This could lead to the coldest January for the US since 2011.”
He added that “temperatures that are well below historical average” could linger for a week. Temperatures 12-25F (7-14C) below normal are forecast.
Severe travel delays are expected. Nearly 1,500 flights into and out of the US have been cancelled and nearly 5,000 more delayed, according to FlightAware.com.
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Kentucky firefighters shovel snow
Amtrak has also cancelled numerous train services.
American, Delta, Southwest and United airlines are waiving change fees for passengers because of the potential flight disruptions.
Further north, Canadians are also feeling the effects of the polar vortex.
Much of Canada is under extreme weather alerts this weekend with frigid temperatures spanning the country.
Some areas are also seeing snow squalls – a sudden heavy snowfall accompanied by strong winds.
In the central province of Manitoba, the wind chill could see temperatures plummet to as low as -40C.
Meanwhile, parts of Ontario could see as much as 15in of snow on Sunday.
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A deserted highway in Shawnee, Kansas, on Sunday
In the central US, there will be “considerable disruptions to daily life” and “dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures” on Sunday, according to the NWS.
Conditions on roads have already deteriorated, with crashes involving lorries and cars, as well as a fire engine rolling over near Salina, Kansas.
“Whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded,” the NWS warned.
Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes will move east from Arkansas and Louisiana into Mississippi and Alabama on Sunday evening, the NWS said.
Private meteorologist Ryan Maue said: “It’s going to be a mess, a potential disaster. This is something we haven’t seen in quite a while.”
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Publish date : 2025-01-05 08:12:00
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