Major US winter storm threatens millions with snow, ice and brutal cold | Weather in the United States

A major winter storm was sweeping across the central United States on Sunday, forecasters said, bringing with it a feared combination of snow, ice and plunging temperatures.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings in Kansas and Missouri, where blizzard conditions are expected as far away as New Jersey.

In the two states where blizzard warnings were in effect, travel could be very difficult or impossible as snow blown by high winds reduced visibility, the NWS said. Gusts of wind could cause tree branches to fall.

Do not travel unless necessary! the NWS said.

The polar vortex of ultracold air generally remains locked around the north pole, spinning 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.

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 14 inches.

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.

A man on an electric scooter in downtown Wichita, Kansas. Photograph: Travis Heying/AP

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

A fire truck, several tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles overturned west of Salina, Kansas. The rigs also jackknifed and entered ditches, said Ben Gardner, a state highway patrol trooper.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

On Saturday in Chicago, temperatures hovered around 0F in Minneapolis, while dropping to -14F in International Falls, Minnesota, on the Canadian border.

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

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

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

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°F.

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

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos