A powerful winter storm system swept across the eastern United States on Monday, blanketing cities in heavy snow and freezing rain, disrupting travel for millions, and leaving at least five people dead. The storm, which had already caused hazardous road conditions in the Midwest over the weekend, left a trail of destruction, power outages, and travel chaos.
As of Monday afternoon, over 175,000 residents from Missouri to Virginia were without power, according to Poweroutage.us. Meanwhile, air travel was severely impacted, with more than 2,400 flights canceled and thousands more delayed, per FlightAware.
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasted up to a foot of snow in Washington, D.C., paralyzing the nation’s capital. Schools were closed, and residents waded through snow-laden streets. Despite the storm, Congress convened to certify Donald Trump’s election victory, marking the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots.
The White House confirmed President Joe Biden was closely monitoring the situation and pledged federal support to affected states.
In Missouri, two people were struck and killed by sliding vehicles after exiting their own stranded cars. In Kansas, two individuals died in a vehicle crash on an icy highway, while a third person was killed in a collision involving a tractor-trailer.
State and local authorities responded to thousands of incidents, with Missouri’s Highway Patrol reporting over 1,000 stranded motorists and 356 crashes.
The storm continued to barrel eastward, threatening southeastern states with thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes. The NWS warned of significant ice accumulation, tree damage, and prolonged power outages. Temperatures were expected to plunge, with some regions facing life-threatening wind chills below zero degrees Fahrenheit (minus 18 degrees Celsius).
In the Appalachian region, which is still recovering from a deadly hurricane in September, conditions were expected to be particularly perilous.
Climate Change Link
Scientists have attributed the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including this storm, to manmade climate change.
Governors in Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, and Maryland declared states of emergency and urged residents to stay home while emergency crews worked to clear roads and restore power. Video footage from affected areas showed cars skidding off icy highways, jack-knifed tractor-trailers, and entire communities bracing for the storm’s aftermath.
As the system tracks eastward, the Great Lakes region and New York are also experiencing harsh conditions, including lake-effect snow, with some areas buried under several feet.
This storm underscores the need for preparedness in the face of increasingly unpredictable and extreme winter weather.
