Drivers skid and crash as winter storm grips central US

MISSION, KANSAS —

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.

Snow and ice forecast

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

The storm was then forecast to move toward the Ohio Valley, causing severe travel disruptions. It will reach the mid-Atlantic states Sunday through Monday, with severe frost expected as far south as Florida.

Severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, were also possible ahead of the cold front of the storm system moving through the Lower Mississippi Valley, the National Weather Service warned.

Car wrecks

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

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. Online, he asked for prayers and warned that some roads were almost impassable.

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

The governors of neighboring Missouri and neighboring Arkansas declared a state of emergency. Whiteout conditions threaten to make driving dangerous or impossible and increase the risk of getting stuck, forecasters have warned.

Prepare

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.

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

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

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

“It’s going to be a real headache,” said Tom Kines, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. “The storm carries not only a threat of snow, but also a threat of ice.”

Power outages could be significant, particularly south of the Kansas City area, Kines said.

Temperatures are falling

Starting Monday, the eastern two-thirds of the country will experience dangerous, bitter cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 7 to 14 degrees Celsius below normal as the polar vortex expands from the High Arctic.

On Saturday in Chicago, temperatures hovered between minus 7 and 10 degrees Celsius and around minus 18 degrees Celsius in Minneapolis, while dropping to minus 25 degrees Celsius in International Falls, Minnesota, on the Canadian border.

Disturbances extend south

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Friday evening ahead of the storm and noted it could impact citizens’ ability to vote in Tuesday’s special election. In a press release on X, he encouraged residents to vote on Saturday before the arrival of bad weather.

A similar statement was issued in Maryland, where officials in the state’s historic capital near the Chesapeake Bay asked residents to remove vehicles from emergency snow plowing routes. Annapolis also announced plans to open several garages for free parking on Sunday.

The National Weather Service predicted about 8 to 12 inches of snow in the Annapolis area, with temperatures remaining below freezing through the weekend.

In Baltimore, a severe weather alert was issued, directing agencies to provide shelter and assistance to those in need. City officials said wind chills were expected to drop to minus 10.56 degrees Celsius overnight Saturday and remain in the teens through Tuesday.