Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc In Parts Of US, Heaviest Snowfall In A Decade Likely
A major snowstorm plummeted the temperature across the United States, due to the heavy snowfall motorists were asked to stay home.
A major storm brought snow, ice, and strong winds and the temperature plummeted across the United States. It created a hazardous travel condition from the central and southern states to the East Coast early Monday, which led to the closure of schools and government offices in several states according to the Associated Press (AP).
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri all the way to New Jersey. In areas within this region that receive the highest snow totals, this could be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade, AP cited weather services.
In Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana, snow and ice blanketed major roads, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help stranded motorists. At least 8 inches of snow was expected, along with gusting winds up to 72 kmph.
The polar vortex, a mass of ultra-cold air, typically circulates around the North Pole. People in the US, Europe, and Asia experience severe cold when the vortex shifts and moves southward. According to AP, studies show the fast-warming Arctic is partly to blame for the increasing frequency of the polar vortex extending its icy grip.
Due to the weather, over the weekend, at least 600 motorists were stranded in Missouri. Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky, where a state trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after his patrol car was struck.
While Virginia State Police reported at least 135 crashes as the storm swept into the state on Sunday. In Charleston, West Virginia, where several inches of snow had accumulated by Sunday night, authorities urged motorists to stay home.
In Indiana, snow fully covered portions of Interstate 64, Interstate 69 and U.S. Route 41, prompting Indiana State Police to plead with motorists to stay off the roads as ploughs worked to keep up.
Roughly 10 inches of snow fell in Kansas, with eventual totals predicted to top 14 inches for parts of that state and northern Missouri. In Kentucky, Louisville recorded 7.7 inches of snow on Sunday, a new record for the date that shattered the previous mark of 3 inches set in 1910.
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