The heaviest snowfall in a decade is possible in some areas as a winter storm threatens the United States.

A blast of snow, ice, wind and plunging temperatures made for dangerous travel conditions in parts of the central United States on Sunday, as a disruptive winter storm brought the possibility of the “heaviest snowfall important for a decade” in certain regions.

Snowfall and ice covered major roads in parts of Kansas and Indiana, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help stranded motorists. At least 8 inches of snow were expected, especially north of Interstate 70, as the National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for Kansas and Missouri – where blizzard conditions were reported – through New Jersey until Monday.

“For locations in this region receiving the highest snow totals, this could be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the weather service said Sunday.

About 63 million people in the United States were under some sort of winter weather advisory, watch or warning as of Sunday, according to Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service.

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.

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PHOTOS: Heaviest snowfall in a decade possible in some areas as winter storm threatens US

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In Indiana, snow completely covered portions of Interstate 64, Interstate 69 and U.S. Route 41, and Indiana State Police pleaded with motorists to stay away. away from roads as snow plows worked to keep pace with the precipitation.

“It’s snowing so hard that the snowplows are coming by, and in less than half an hour the roads are completely covered again,” said Sgt. » said Todd Ringle.

Part of I-70 was closed in central Kansas Saturday afternoon. About 10 inches of snow fell in parts of Kansas, and snow and snow totals in parts of Kansas and northern Missouri were expected to reach 14 inches.

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 even 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.

Parts of upstate New York saw 3 feet or more of snow from lake effect that is expected to last through Sunday afternoon.

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.

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

Nearly 200 flights to and from St. Louis Lambert International Airport were canceled Sunday, according to tracking platform FlightAware.

Kansas City International Airport temporarily halted flight operations Saturday afternoon due to icy conditions. Dozens of flights were delayed, including a charter plane carrying the Kansas City Chiefs, before the runways reopened.

“Work will continue overnight to keep the airfield clear,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a message on X.

Amtrak also canceled many trains due to the storm.

Starting Monday, the eastern two-thirds of the country will experience dangerous, bitter cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees colder than normal as the polar vortex expands from the High Arctic.

Temperatures hovered around freezing in Chicago and Minneapolis on Sunday, while dropping to -11 in International Falls, Minnesota, on the Canadian border.

Northeastern states are more likely to experience several cold days after a generally mild winter, said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine. A plume of cold air coming from Canada will likely result in a cold but dry week, Palmer said.

Cold air will likely be present across the eastern half of the country as far as Georgia, Palmer said. Parts of the East Coast will experience freezing temperatures and minimums will likely drop to single digits in some areas, he said.

Wind could also increase as the week goes on, creating potentially dangerous conditions for people exposed to the elements for extended periods of time, Palmer said.

“As we head into the middle of next week, it looks like the winds are picking up,” he said.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Friday evening ahead of the storm and encouraged residents to vote early Saturday ahead of the state’s special election Tuesday in a statement on X.

Similar statements were issued in Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and several cities in central Illinois.

“This is the real deal,” meteorologist John Gordon said at a news conference in Louisville, Kentucky. “Are meteorologists exaggerating this disproportionately? No.”

Annapolis officials have asked residents to remove vehicles from emergency snow plowing routes. The state’s historic capital near the Chesapeake Bay also announced plans to open several garages for free parking on Sunday.

The National Weather Service predicted 8 to 12 inches of snow for 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 13 degrees Fahrenheit overnight Saturday and remain in the teens through Tuesday.

In Louisiana, crews 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 in the summer, winter sightings are concerning because they can begin to experience symptoms of cold stress when the temperature drops below 68 degrees.

“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.

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Associated Press journalists Julie Walker in New York and Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed. Witte reported from Annapolis, Maryland. Whittle was reported in Portland, Maine.