Winter storm brings snow, ice and plunging temperatures to central U.S.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) Road conditions deteriorated Saturday across the central United States as a winter storm brought a mix of snow, ice and plunging temperatures, with forecasts calling for the fearsome combo to spread eastward into the next few days.

Winter has returned, said Bob Oravec, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

The polar vortex of ultracold air generally stays locked around the North Pole and spins like a top. But sometimes it escapes or spreads to the United States, Europe or Asia and that's when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold.

Studies show that rapid warming in the Arctic is partly responsible for the increased stretching or wandering of the polar vortex.

Snow and ice forecast

On Saturday evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, particularly along and north of Interstate 70. A portion of the highway was closed in central Kansas in the afternoon. Total snow and sleet accumulations in parts of Kansas and northern Missouri are expected to reach 35.6 centimeters (14 inches).

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports snow, freezing rain and bitter cold across much of the United States.

The storm was then forecast to move toward the Ohio Valley, causing severe travel disruptions. It will reach the mid-Atlantic states Sunday through Monday, with severe frost expected even as far south as Florida.

Severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, were also possible ahead of the storm system's cold front moving through the Lower Mississippi Valley, the National Weather Service warned.

Parts of upstate New York saw 3 feet or more of snow from a lake effect that is expected to last through Sunday afternoon.

Car crashes begin as storm hits

A fire truck, several tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles overturned west of Salina, Kansas. The rigs also jackknifed and entered ditches, said State Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner.

He posted a video showing his boots sliding on the highway asphalt like an ice rink.

We're here now, Gardner said as he drove to an accident scene. Online, he asked for prayers and warned that some roads were almost impassable.

Freezing rain in Wichita, Kansas, sent authorities to several crashes in the morning, and police urged drivers to stay home if possible and watch out for emergency vehicles.

In a photo released by the Kansas Highway Patrol, a car is stuck between two trucks in freezing weather Saturday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Salina, Kansas. (Kansas Highway Patrol via AP)

In a photo released by the Kansas Highway Patrol, a car is stuck between two trucks in freezing weather Saturday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Salina, Kansas. (Kansas Highway Patrol via AP)

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The governors of neighboring Missouri and neighboring Arkansas declared a state of emergency. Whiteout conditions threatened to make driving dangerous or impossible, forecasters warned, and increase the risk of getting stuck.

Please stay off the roads. Crews are seeing too many vehicles going out and sliding, the Missouri Department of Transportation said on social platform X.

Air transport was also hampered

Kansas City International Airport temporarily halted flight operations in the afternoon due to icy conditions. Dozens of flights were delayed, including a charter plane carrying the Kansas City Chiefs, before the runways reopened.

Work will continue overnight to keep the airfield clear, Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a message on X.

Prepare to weather the storm

Stores in Wichita were filled with shoppers stocking up on supplies before the storm, and warming centers were opened at churches and libraries.

Several businesses have closed in the Kansas City area, and the suburban Independence, Mo., school district said it may have to cancel classes for one or more days.

Get where you're going now and stay put. If you must travel, consider packing a bag and staying where you are going, the Missouri Department of Transportation said in a post on X.

The agency warned Friday that a shortage of workers could hamper the ability to clear roads.

In Columbus, Ohio, crews treated major roads with anti-icing fluids.

It will be a real headache, said Tom Kines, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. The storm not only carries a threat of snow, but also a threat of ice.

Power outages could be significant, particularly south of the Kansas City area, Kines said.

Temperatures are falling, but no records are breaking

Starting Monday, the eastern two-thirds of the country will experience dangerous, bitter cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees (7 to 14 degrees Celsius) colder than normal as the polar vortex expands from the High Arctic.

New winter weather blows through Lowville, New York, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)

New winter weather blows through Lowville, New York, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)

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Saturday in Chicago, temperatures hovered around 10°C (minus 7-10°C) and around zero in Minneapolis (minus 18°C), while dropping to -14°C (minus 25°C) in International Falls , in Minnesota, on the Canadian border.

Disturbances extend south

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Friday evening ahead of the storm and encouraged residents to vote early Saturday ahead of the state's special election Tuesday in a statement on X.

Similar statements were issued in Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and several cities in central Illinois.

Steve Beckett of the Owensboro, Ky., street department sprays a salt brine solution along Hickman Avenue in anticipation of snow and ice expected over the weekend, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Owensboro, Kentucky. (Greg Eans/The Messenger -Investigator via AP, File)

Steve Beckett of the Owensboro, Ky., street department sprays a salt brine solution along Hickman Avenue in anticipation of snow and ice expected over the weekend, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Owensboro, Kentucky. (Greg Eans/The Messenger -Investigator via AP, File)

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It's the real deal, meteorologist John Gordon said at a news conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Are meteorologists exaggerating this disproportionately? No.

Annapolis officials have asked residents to remove vehicles from emergency snow plowing routes. The state's historic capital near the Chesapeake Bay also announced plans to open several garages for free parking on Sunday.

The National Weather Service predicted 8 to 12 inches (about 20 to 30 centimeters) of snow for the Annapolis area, with temperatures remaining below freezing through the weekend.

In Baltimore, a severe weather alert was issued, directing agencies to provide shelter and assistance to those in need. City officials said wind chills were expected to drop to 13 degrees Fahrenheit (-10.56 degrees Celsius) overnight Saturday and remain in the teens through Tuesday.

In Louisiana, crews were racing to find a manatee spotted in Lake Pontchartrain before cold temperatures arrived. The manatee was first spotted on New Year's Eve in the Mandeville area.

Although manatees are common in the area in summer, winter sightings are concerning because they can begin to experience symptoms of cold stress when temperatures drop below 68 degrees (20 Celsius).

We are doing everything we can to get our hands on this animal, said Gabriella Harlamert, stranding and rehabilitation coordinator for Audubon Aquarium Rescue in New Orleans.

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Read more of AP's climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

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Witte reported from Annapolis, Maryland. Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Julie Walker in New York contributed.

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