A severe winter storm has claimed at least five lives across the United States, bringing mass school closures, travel disruptions, and widespread power outages. Seven states, including Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas, have declared emergencies due to the storm’s impact.
The polar vortex, which typically surrounds the North Pole, has driven extreme cold, resulting in over 2,300 canceled flights and nearly 9,000 delays. According to Poweroutage.us, more than 200,000 people were without power as of Monday night. Snow and sleet are expected to persist in much of the northeastern US on Tuesday, as forecasted by the National Weather Service (NWS).
Dangerous road conditions were reported in several states. Missouri’s highway patrol responded to 365 crashes on Sunday, leaving dozens injured and one person dead. In Kansas, two people died in a car crash amid severe storm conditions. In Houston, Texas, a person was found dead from exposure to the cold near a bus stop on Monday morning. Virginia authorities reported 300 car crashes from midnight to Monday morning, with at least one fatality.
Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci noted that Kansas City experienced its heaviest snow in 32 years, with some areas near the Ohio River turning into “skating rinks.” Cappucci warned residents to stay indoors, citing severe disruptions: “The ploughs are getting stuck, the police are getting stuck, everybody’s getting stuck.”
