“Winter Fury Unleashed: 27 States Battling Snow and Ice Mayhem!”

The initial major winter storm of the season poses a threat to a 2,100-mile area of the U.s., severely impacting major cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, and Indianapolis with substantial snow, blizzard circumstances, and severe ice formations, causing power failures and traffic chaos.

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The vigorous system moved from the Northwest through the northern Rockies and central Plains throughout the first half of the weekend, just hours after hammering the West Coast and even generating the initial tornado of the year in California.

Freezing drizzle hit the Wichita, Kansas, area on Saturday morning, transforming roadways into ice sheets and previewing the difficulties that awaited as the storm intensified and progressed eastward.

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Travel disorder was also noted in Missouri, where the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) reported that since Saturday afternoon, officers have addressed nearly 670 service calls and 176 collisions.

Blizzard conditions officially reached Kansas City International Airport on Sunday, following over three hours marked by frequent 35 mph winds and visibility at or below a quarter-mile.

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This marks the first occasion in several years that the Wichita and Kansas City areas have been placed under a Blizzard Warning.

With 7 inches of snow by Sunday afternoon, downtown Kansas City experienced its snowiest day in 15 years.

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There have been multiple reports of thundersnow, with FOX Weather Meteorologist Kendall Smith witnessing bright lightningand roaring thunder during one of her live broadcasts on Sunday morning.

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To the south of the intense snow band, ice accumulation is anticipated to be a significant issue, potentially reaching nearly an inch from southern Missouri to Kentucky and onward into West Virginia. The substantial layer of ice is expected to cause power interruptions, and given the topography, these interruptions might endure for a prolonged period.

The hazardous weather conditions also resulted in a significant incident involving a Kentucky State Police officer on Sunday afternoon. Reports from state authorities indicate that an officer was struck on Interstate 65 in Warren County and was receiving treatment for injuries that were classified as non-life-threatening at a nearby hospital.

As noted by PowerOutage.US, close to 100,000 utility customers were experiencing power outages across Missouri, Kentucky, and Illinois by Sunday evening.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear informed FOX Weather that following around six inches of snowfall, ice was now the primary worry for the commonwealth.

“Numerous locations within the Commonwealth are expected to receive more than a quarter inch of ice, with some areas potentially seeing up to three-quarters of an inch. That’s sufficient to topple power lines and break tree branches,” Beshear stated. “Our greatest concern is the loss of electricity, particularly due to the frigid temperatures anticipated starting Wednesday and lasting through Thursday.”

Arctic air trailing the winter storm will push a considerable portion of the northern U.S. below freezing for several days, leading to further challenges for those unprepared for the severe winter impact.

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Officials from Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia declared emergencies in response to the impending snow and ice that will move toward parts of the East Coast on Sunday and into Monday.

According to Virginia Department of Transportation officials, road conditions were already deteriorating by Sunday afternoon as snow began to spread across the commonwealth.

In Washington, D.C., a special session of Congress is anticipated to convene on Monday for the certification of the 2024 electoral results. Furthermore, the state funeral for President Jimmy Carter will proceed as scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) was initiated on Sunday to manage the state’s response to the approaching storm. Additionally, Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb has activated highway response teams from the Indiana National Guard to assist regions anticipating hazardous driving conditions.

“This activation integrates additional experts from various state agencies and outside collaborators into a unified location to ensure an effective, swift, and coordinated reaction to the winter storm affecting the state,” officials stated in a press release.

The Missouri National Guard has also mobilized around 200 service members;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas to assist with preparations.

200 service personnel, conducting stranded motorist patrols in the northern region of the state, while a debris removal team is ready to clear fallen trees in the central and eastern sections of the state where ice accumulation is anticipated.

The high-impact winter tempest will deliver snow and ice to parts of the I-95 corridor on Monday as the system progresses eastward. Major metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C., and New York City will experience the effects before it departs off the coast late Monday night. Travel conditions will turn perilous along I-95 from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.

Original article source: Winter storm slams 27 states as heavy snow, crippling ice create travel chaos, power outages