Drivers skid and crash as winter mix grips central U.S. before moving east

Road conditions deteriorated across the central United States on Saturday as a winter storm brought a mix of snow, ice and plunging temperatures, with forecasts calling for the feared combination to spread eastward into the next few days.

“Winter is here again,” said Bob Oravec, chief forecaster at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

The polar vortex of ultracold air generally stays locked around the North Pole and spins like a top. But sometimes it escapes or spreads to the United States, Europe or Asia – and that’s when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold. Studies show that rapid warming in the Arctic is partly responsible for the increased stretching or wandering of the polar vortex.

As of Saturday evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, especially along and north of Interstate 70, where there is a good chance of at least 8 inches of snow (20 centimeters). Part of the highway was closed in central Kansas Saturday afternoon.

The storm will then move toward the Ohio Valley, where severe travel disruptions are expected. It will reach the Mid-Atlantic states Sunday through Monday. Severe frost is even expected as far south as Florida.

Severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, are also possible ahead of the storm system’s cold front as it moves through the Lower Mississippi Valley, the National Weather Service warned.

A fire truck, several tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles overturned west of Salina, Kansas. The rigs also jackknifed and entered ditches, said Trooper Ben Gardner of the Kansas Highway Patrol.

He posted a video showing his boots sliding on the highway asphalt like an ice rink.

“We’re here now,” Gardner said as he drove to the crash site. “The game has started.”

Freezing rain in Wichita, Kansas, sent authorities to several crashes Saturday morning. Police urged drivers to stay home if possible and watch out for emergency vehicles.

A state of emergency was declared in neighboring Missouri by Governor Mike Parson. Whiteout conditions can make driving dangerous or impossible, forecasters warned, and increase the risk of getting stuck.

Stores in Wichita were filled with shoppers stocking up on supplies before the storm, and warming centers were opened at churches and libraries.

Several businesses have closed in the Kansas City area, and the suburban Independence, Mo., school district said it may have to cancel classes for one or more days.

“Get where you’re going now and stay put. If you must travel, consider packing a bag and staying where you are going,” the Missouri Department of Transportation urged in a post on X.

The agency warned Friday that a shortage of workers could hamper the ability to clear roads.

In Ohio, Columbus crews have already treated major roads with anti-icing fluids.

Starting Monday, hundreds of millions of people in the eastern two-thirds of the country will experience dangerous and bone-chilling air and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees colder than normal (7 to 14 degrees Celsius) as the polar vortex expands from the High Arctic.

Saturday in Chicago, temperatures hovered around 10°C (minus 7-10°C) and around zero in Minneapolis (minus 18°C), while dropping to -14°C (minus 25°C) in International Falls , in Minnesota, on the Canadian border.

Although these cold temperatures are not setting any records, they are still causing problems.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Friday evening ahead of the storm, noting that it could impact Virginia residents’ ability to vote in Tuesday’s state special election. In a statement on X, the governor encouraged residents to vote early Saturday in a special election before winter sets in.

In Maryland’s historic state capital near the Chesapeake Bay, local officials asked residents to remove vehicles from emergency snow plowing routes in the city of Annapolis and announced plans to open Sunday several garages for free parking.

The National Weather Service is forecasting 8 to 12 inches (about 20 to 30 centimeters) of snow in the Annapolis area, with temperatures remaining below freezing through the weekend.

In Baltimore, a severe weather warning was issued, alerting agencies to provide shelter and assistance to those in need. City officials said wind chills were expected to drop to 13 degrees Saturday night and remain in the teens through Tuesday.

In Louisiana, teams on land and water were racing to find a manatee spotted in Lake Pontchartrain before cold temperatures arrived. The manatee was first spotted on New Year’s Eve in the Mandeville area.

Although manatees are common in the area during the summer months, winter sightings are concerning since the animals can begin to experience symptoms of cold stress when the temperature drops below 68 degrees (20 Celsius).

“We’re doing everything we can to get our hands on this animal,” said Gabriella Harlamert, stranding and rehabilitation coordinator for Audubon Aquarium Rescue in New Orleans.