Five dead as snow wreaks havoc in the United States

Watch: Major snowstorm covers beaches, brings skiers to Washington

At least five people have died in a winter storm that has gripped much of the United States in its icy grip, leading to mass school closures, travel chaos and power outages.

Seven US states have declared a state of emergency: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas.

More than 2,300 flights were canceled, with nearly 9,000 delays also reported due to extreme weather caused by the polar vortex of frigid air that usually surrounds the North Pole.

According to Poweroutage.us, about 190,000 people were without power Tuesday in states hit by the storm. Snow and sleet are expected to persist throughout the day across much of the northeastern United States, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Getty Images

The winter storm prompted federal offices and local schools to close their doors in the Washington, D.C. area.

While precipitation will then dissipate, cold air from the Arctic is expected to keep frigid conditions over part of the country for several more weeks.

In Washington, D.C. — where lawmakers gathered Monday to certify Donald Trump's victory in the November election — about 5 to 9 inches of snow fell, and up to 12 inches was recorded in parts of Maryland and the Neighboring Virginia.

In front of the Washington Monument, hundreds of local residents gathered at a local park for a snowball fight, a 15-year-old tradition.

“I'm just having fun,” one local told the BBC. “I’ve never had a snowball fight before.”

Former US Olympic skier Clare Egan was found cross-country skiing on the National Mall, the central thoroughfare of the US capital.

She told the Associated Press that she thought “maybe my skiing days were behind me” after moving to the city.

A weather emergency in Washington DC is declared until the early hours of Tuesday due to the system, dubbed Winter Storm Blair by the Weather Channel.

Children scheduled to return to class Monday after winter break were instead enjoying a snow day as school districts closed from Maryland to Kansas.

Getty Images

Hundreds of people participated in a snowball fight in Washington DC

In other parts of the United States, the winter storm brought dangerous road conditions.

In Missouri, the state Highway Patrol said at least 365 people crashed Sunday, leaving dozens injured and at least one dead.

In neighboring Kansas, one of the hardest-hit states, local news reported that two people were killed in a car crash during the storm.

In Houston, Texas, a person was found dead from the cold outside a bus stop Monday morning, authorities said.

In Virginia, where 300 car crashes were reported between midnight and Monday morning, authorities warned local residents to avoid driving in much of the state.

At least one motorist was killed, according to local media.

Matthew Cappucci, senior meteorologist for the weather app MyRadar, told the BBC that Kansas City saw the heaviest snowfall in 32 years.

Some areas near the Ohio River have turned into “ice rinks” due to the freezing temperatures, he added.

“The plows are stuck, the police are stuck, everyone is stuck – stay home,” he said.

Getty Images

Residents in several states have been warned to avoid the roads as much as possible

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