A severe winter storm has claimed the lives of at least five people as it sweeps across parts of the United States, causing widespread disruption. The storm has led to school closures, travel delays, and power outages.
Seven states—Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas have declared emergencies in response to the extreme weather. More than 2,300 flights have been canceled, and nearly 9,000 others delayed due to the storm, driven by a polar vortex bringing frigid Arctic air that typically remains near the North Pole.
As of early Tuesday, roughly 190,000 residents were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts snow and sleet will persist throughout the day across much of the northeastern U.S., with cold temperatures expected to linger for several weeks even after the snow subsides.
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In Washington, D.C., federal offices and local schools were shut down on Monday due to the storm. The area received 5 to 9 inches (13 to 23 cm) of snow, with some parts of Maryland and Virginia experiencing up to a foot. Residents turned to creative ways to enjoy the snowfall, including a traditional snowball fight at a local park and cross-country skiing on the National Mall.
The storm, dubbed “Winter Storm Blair” by the Weather Channel, has created hazardous road conditions across multiple states. Missouri reported 365 traffic accidents on Sunday, resulting in dozens of injuries and at least one fatality. In Kansas, two people lost their lives in a crash during the storm, while a person in Houston, Texas, was found dead from exposure to the cold. Virginia authorities also reported over 300 crashes overnight, with at least one fatality.
Kansas City experienced its heaviest snowfall in over three decades, according to meteorologist Matthew Cappucci of the MyRadar weather app. In some areas near the Ohio River, icy conditions turned roads into treacherous skating rinks. Officials have urged residents across affected states to stay off the roads if possible.
