A devastating winter storm has swept across the United States, leaving at least five people dead in its wake. The storm, characterized by a polar vortex of icy air typically confined to the North Pole, has led to widespread disruptions, including mass school closures, travel chaos, and significant power outages across several states.
Seven states have declared emergencies: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas, as they grapple with the harsh conditions. The storm has caused over 2,300 flight cancellations and nearly 9,000 delays, with major airports seeing significant impacts. The adverse weather conditions have left more than 200,000 people without power in the affected regions, with some areas expecting to remain without electricity for days due to damage from the heavy snow and ice.
In Washington DC, the situation was severe enough to prompt a weather emergency declaration until the early hours of Tuesday. The city saw between 5 and 9 inches of snow, with some surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia recording up to a foot of accumulation. Despite the challenging conditions, local traditions like snowball fights continued, with hundreds of residents taking part in a now 15-year-old event near the Washington Monument.
The impact of the storm was not limited to the capital. In Missouri, the state’s highway patrol reported at least 365 crashes on Sunday, resulting in numerous injuries and one death. Kansas, one of the worst-hit states, saw two fatalities from a car crash during the storm. In Texas, a person was found dead from exposure to cold weather at a bus stop in Houston, illustrating the storm’s deadly reach even in typically milder climates.
Power outages have been widespread, with tracking sites like Poweroutage.us reporting over 260,000 customers without power at one point. The National Weather Service has forecasted continued snow and sleet in the northeastern US, with cold Arctic air expected to maintain icy conditions for weeks.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, with many local authorities warning of hazardous driving conditions. Schools were closed from Maryland to Kansas, giving students an unexpected extension to their winter holiday, turning potential school days into snow days.
The storm, named Winter Storm Blair by the Weather Channel, has underscored the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events, prompting discussions on preparedness and response strategies for future weather crises.
