US Prepares for Winter Storm, Impacting Over 60 Million Residents

 

US Prepares for Winter Storm, Impacting Over 60 Million Residents

According to CNN, more than 60 million individuals across the nation were facing some form of weather alert, while FlightAware, a flight tracking service, recorded nearly 2,200 cancellations and over 25,000 delays in air travel. 

A dangerous winter storm moved across a significant portion of the central United States on Sunday, tracking eastward and causing disruptions in travel and work from Kansas City to Washington. 

As of Sunday afternoon, around a dozen states spanning from Kansas to New Jersey were subject to winter storm warnings, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Meanwhile, regions in the Southern US were at risk of tornadoes and cold weather. 

According to CNN, more than 60 million individuals across the nation were facing some form of weather alert, while FlightAware, a flight tracking service, recorded nearly 2,200 cancellations and over 25,000 delays in air travel. 

Strong winds associated with the first storm of the year created blizzard-like conditions in Kansas and Missouri, while states further to the east were covered with several inches of snow. Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear urged residents to "please stay at home" after numerous vehicle accidents resulted in the closure of a main highway. 

The NWS also cautioned that some regions could experience up to half an inch of ice accumulation and significant tree damage due to strong wind gusts, which might result in "extended power outages." 

Freezing rain, sleet, and snow began impacting Kansas early Sunday morning. Storm chaser Brian Emfinger reported on X that the roads surrounding Kansas City resembled "a skating rink." 

Footage shared by the Weather Channel captured vehicles slipping off ice-covered roads and tractor trailers losing control in Kansas, where some locations anticipated over a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. 

The NWS indicated in an update that "areas of heavy snow will push east through the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians tonight, reaching the northern Mid-Atlantic by Monday morning." 

Regions around Washington might receive up to 10 inches of snow from Sunday night into Monday, causing "difficult travel and closures," according to the Washington Post. 

This could complicate the plans of US lawmakers, who are constitutionally required to gather on Capitol Hill on January 6 to confirm the results of last year's presidential election. 

"Whether we encounter a blizzard or not," House Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned on Fox News Sunday, "we cannot postpone that certification... I hope to see full attendance."