An arctic blast is battering the southern US as a brutal winter storm blows from the Ohio River Valley to the mid-Atlantic on Monday morning.
The storm has disrupted travel, bringing heavy snow, ice and wind to the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. At least seven deaths tied to inclement weather were reported over the weekend in Missouri and Kansas.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled across airports in the Midwest and along the East Coast, and officials in several states are pleading with residents to keep off the roads unless there’s an emergency.
And, hundreds of thousands of customers have been left in the dark in Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and other states, according to the tracker PowerOutage.US.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” the NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center said in a statement.
Meanwhile, frigid air is blowing into the southern US, bringing single-digit “feels like” temperatures to much of Texas and causing officials to issue a freeze watch in orange-growing Florida.
Many states, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia, issued states of emergency ahead of the storm. Washington, D.C. is also under a snow emergency alert as of Sunday afternoon.
Key Points
- Seven US states declare emergencies
- Inclement weather results in several deaths
- Flights cancelled as arctic blast causes travel chaos
- More than 300,000 customers have been left without power
- Track winter storm Blair with this interactive map
- Winter Storm Blair in photos: See Americans respond to the storm
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s runways close for the night
22:39
Julia Musto
Runways have now closed for the evening at Reagan National - check with your airline for flight information. https://t.co/UJNZxygWeq
— Reagan Airport (@Reagan_Airport) January 6, 2025
Florida’s Jacksonville Jaguars were stuck on an Indianapolis tarmac for seven hours
22:30
Julia Musto
Florida’s Jacksonville Jaguars returned home early Monday after spending seven hours waiting through a winter storm on the tarmac at Indianapolis International Airport.
The NFL team lost to the Colts 26-23.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Power slowly restored in Virginia and other eastern states
22:16
Julia Musto
Power was slowly coming back on in eastern states that were slammed by a winter storm on Monday.
There were 245,560 customers without power in 12 states affected by the inclement weather, according to tracker PowerOutage.US. The majority of outages were still in Virginia.
Scary photo shows Kentucky state trooper’s vehicle following crash
22:15
Julia Musto
*ALERT*
— KY State Police (@kystatepolice) January 5, 2025
This trooper was hit on I-65 in Warren County. He is receiving medical treatment with non life threatening injuries. This is why we are asking you TO STAY HOME and avoid travel. #WinterStormBlair is dangerous - please heed warnings and do NOT travel today. #kywx pic.twitter.com/kQsJKkZCQo
Kentucky utility works to restore power after more than 400 wires were reported down
22:00
Julia Musto
Deadly winter storm sends airports into chaos as more than 302,000 customers left without power
21:45
Julia Musto
Here’s how to clear a vehicle that’s covered with ice and snow
21:30
Julia Musto
Stay off snow and ice covered roads today if you can, but if you must head out, make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip.❄️https://t.co/Jlj8KgPT62 pic.twitter.com/ZiAEkfZGvC
— National Weather Service (@NWS) January 6, 2025
Cold weather also killed a person in Houston, Texas
21:15
Julia Musto
An individual was found dead Monday morning at a bus stop in Houston, Texas.
The death was confirmed to be due to cold weather, officials told Fox 26.
Temperatures in the area dipped into the low 30s overnight, according to Houston Public Media.
While Washington’s zoo visitors are away, the pandas will play — in the snow
21:00
Julia Musto
❄️ Tumbling in a winter wonderland! This morning, about 5 inches of snow blanketed the Washington, D.C., area, including giant panda Bao Li and Qing Bao's outdoor habitats. Flakes stuck to their fur as the bears frolicked and somersaulted. It was paws-itively the panda… pic.twitter.com/MhgkM2ZyBd
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) January 6, 2025
Winter Storm Blair blankets the U.S.
20:45
Julia Musto
Kentucky police say dispatch saw a 70 percent increase in calls between Sunday and Monday
20:30
Julia Musto
Thank you to all our troopers, officers & dispatchers are working tirelessly during #WinterStormBlair
— KY State Police (@kystatepolice) January 6, 2025
Dispatch answered over 1,450 calls - a 70% increase in calls compared to a normal Sun/Mon.
Troopers have assisted nearly 300 stranded motorists since the storm started #kywx pic.twitter.com/2aI783Xtsm
Kentucky’s Fayette County schools will remain closed through mid-week
20:15
Julia Musto
More than 4,100 flight delays are reported within, into, or out of the US
20:00
Julia Musto
More than 4,100 flight delays were reported by the early afternoon on Monday, according to tracker FlightAware.
There have also been 1,837 cancelations within, into, or out of the country.
More than 302,000 customers in the eastern U.S. are without power
19:45
Julia Musto
More than 302,000 customers in states across the eastern U.S. are without power during Monday’s winter storm.
However, numbers were on the decline in Virginia, which had the highest number of outages, according to online tracker PowerOutage.US.
Dominion Energy, the state’s utility company, said crews were working to restore power in the hard hit areas of Richmond, Farmville, and Altavista.
❄️ Winter Storm Update ❄️
— Dominion Energy (@DominionEnergy) January 6, 2025
Our crews are working to restore power to the nearly 90,000 customers impacted by wet snow and ice across Central, Western, and Southside Virginia. The hardest-hit areas include Metro Richmond, Farmville, and Altavista. pic.twitter.com/JfOiTaicV9
19:30
Julia MustoSnow plows along New York interstate amid lake effect snow
Missouri public works employee dies while removing snow
19:15
Julia Musto
Officials in Missouri’s Jackson County announced Monday that 61-year-old Everett Carter had been struck and killed on Sunday while performing snow removal operations.
Carter had “dedicated 40 years of service to Jackson County, including the last 8 years with the Public Works team.”
“This is a heartbreaking loss for our entire Jackson County family,” Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. said in a press release, according to KSHB. “Everett Carter dedicated four decades of his life to serving our community with pride and professionalism. We will forever be grateful for his service and deeply miss his presence. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”
Interactive map shows winter storm over the eastern US
19:00
Julia Musto
North Carolina woman dies in fatal crash on icy road
18:45
Julia Musto
A North Carolina woman is dead following a crash on an icy road.
Winston-Salem’s Roshena Lusandra Mason, 46, was reportedly driving northbound on U.S. 52 when her Kia lost control, went off the road, and crashed into several trees, according to WGHP.
The overpass had been slick due to winter weather conditions.
While Mason was pronounced dead at the scene, a male passenger was taken to a local hospital for treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police warned drivers about hazardous travel conditions and icy and slick roads.
“If you must travel, please exercise extreme caution. And most importantly, slow down! Officers will be responding to calls as quickly as possible, but due to call volumes typically increasing during winter weather, response times may be delayed. We appreciate your patience in advance,” the Winston-Salem department said in a Facebook post.
Maryland police respond to 475 calls for service in winter storm
18:30
Julia Musto
Since 1 a.m., @MDSP has responded to 475 calls for service, including 123 reported crashes & 156 unattended vehicles. All Maryland counties have Snow Emergency Plans in effect. For updated road conditions >> https://t.co/jmDqn5c5kK pic.twitter.com/BJF65ISTx1
— MD State Police (@MDSP) January 6, 2025
Biden and his team are monitoring the winter storm
18:15
Julia Musto
President Joe Biden and his team are monitoring the severe winter weather across much of the U.S., the White House said on Monday.
“We want to encourage all Americans affected by this weather to take it seriously, continue to monitor forecasts, and heed the warnings of local officials,” White House spokesperson Jeremy Edwards said.
With reporting from The Associated Press
New York begins to see flurries
18:00
Julia Musto
We are beginning to see some flurries and light snow work its way into the area from the west. This is expected to continue into early this afternoon with snowfall totals expected to be less than inch most places with highest amounts to the SW. #NYwx #CTwx #NJwx pic.twitter.com/Ygo2BCdUbM
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 6, 2025
Four years after the January 6 Capitol riot, police guard building amid winter storm
17:45
Julia Musto
Cincinnati Airport works to clear airfield after historic snowfall
17:30
Julia Musto
Our airport winter operations teams are working hard to clear everything from public roadways, sidewalks, runways, and all connecting parts of the airfield. Check out their great work! pic.twitter.com/m00nJVtdd2
— CVG Airport (@CVGairport) January 6, 2025
Up to 12 inches of snow are forecast to fall across the Mid-Atlantic
17:15
Julia Musto
The first winter storm of the season is expected to produce between six and 12 inches of snow across the Mid-Atlantic, including in Washington, D.C., forecasters warned Monday.
An additional two to four inches are anticipated to fall over the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians, the National Weather Service warned.
By Monday evening, freezing rain and light icing is forecast to develop from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic.
Icicles block Virginia road cam
17:00
Julia Musto
We received an ice accretion report of 0.10" from the Short Pump area of RVA on I-64. A webcam in that area shows some icicles that developed over the past few hours due to freezing rain. Try to stay off the roads today, but if driving, make sure to use extreme caution! pic.twitter.com/0Bxd3r2BNI
— NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) January 6, 2025
Virginia sees more than 200 crashes in just 12 hours — including one fatality
16:45
Julia Musto
In Virginia, state police said they had responded to more than 200 crashes between 4 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday, although not all of the incidents were storm related.
Several accidents included injuries. One was fatal.
A 32-year-old man identified as Timothy Lee Tanner died around midnight in Wakefield after his truck ran off the road and struck a tree, according to WRIC. Police said he was driving too fast for roadway conditions and wasn’t wearing a seat belt, while alcohol appears to be a contributing factor.
With reporting from The Associated Press
President Biden changes travel plans due to weather
16:34
Julia Musto
Snowy conditions in Washington, D.C., forced a change in President Joe Biden’s travel plans on Monday.
Biden, who is heading to New Orleans following the New Year’s Day truck attack, will drive to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to board Air Force One for the flight. He typically flies directly to the base on the Marine One helicopter.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport sees record snowfall
16:30
Julia Musto
Some 8.4 inches of snow fell in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sunday, resulting in flight cancelations.
That marks their snowiest day since 1998 and broke their record daily maximum snowfall set in 1977.
[12:54 AM] ...Record Daily Maximum Snowfall Set at Cincinnati, OH...
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) January 6, 2025
A record snowfall of 8.4 inches was set at Cincinnati on 01/05/25. This breaks the old record of 6.9 inches set in 1977.
A few more inches of snow were expected on Monday across Cincinnati, where car and truck crashes Monday morning shut down at least two major routes.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Rail travel also snarled by winter storm
16:15
Julia Musto
Tthe nation’s passenger railways have also been disrupted by the storm, with more than 20 cancelations reported on Sunday and about 40 planned for Monday.
“If local authorities are telling people not to travel, it’s counterintuitive to try to run a full slate of services when people are being told to stay home,” Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari told The Associated Press.
In Photos: Americans respond to deadly winter storm
16:00
Julia Musto
Winter storm conditions force school closures
15:45
Julia Musto
Schools were closed Monday in multiple states across the eastern U.S. due to winter storm conditions.
Closures were reported in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, as well as Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
“Our priority is the safety of everyone in our city and getting D.C. cleaned and fully opened as soon as possible,” Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote in a post on social media.
“That said, if you don’t need to be on the roads tonight and tomorrow, stay home.”
Multiple deaths tied to inclement weather over the weekend
15:30
Julia Musto
At least three deaths linked to inclement weather were reported over the weekend.
In Kansas, a Yukon SUV traveling in southbound on Interstate 235 spun out of control, the state’s highway patrol said.
“While going down the embankment, the vehicle rolled an unknown number of times. Both occupants were unrestrained and ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle came to rest upright, facing Northwest by the KDOT fence,” a report noted.
A young man and woman in their mid-twenties were killed in the incident. They were identified as Nathaniel Boyd and Whitney Almond.
In Missouri, the state’s highway patrol said a 33 year-old man from Neligh, Nebraska, was killed after his vehicle — which had been parked on the shoulder of Mound City’s Interstate 29 — began to slide down a hill.
Authorities said that at least 600 motorists had been stranded in the state. Hundreds of other car accidents were reported in Virginia, Kansas, Indiana, and Kentucky.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Satellite imagery shows extent of major winter storm
15:15
Julia Musto
Infrared imagery via @NOAA's #GOESEast (GOES-16) satellite is showing a major #WinterStorm that has been moving from the central Plains and is now bringing heavy snow and freezing rain across the Mid-Atlantic region this morning.
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) January 6, 2025
Latest updates and advisories:… pic.twitter.com/51wE7cl0fr
Hundreds of flight cancelations are reported across the U.S.
15:00
Julia Musto
Hundreds of flight cancelations and delays are reported at airports across the eastern US on Monday morning.
More than 230 cancelations were reported at D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., according to tracker FlightAware.
And, Maryland’s Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Major winter storm forces more than 280,000 customers into the dark
14:30
Julia Musto
More than 280,000 customers are in the dark on Monday as a major winter storm sweeps across the eastern US.
The majority of the outages were reported in Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.US.
Watch: Nation’s capital bracing for dangerous winter storm
14:00
Katie Hawkinson
In pictures: Kansas hit with blizzard-like conditions
12:30
Katie Hawkinson
In pictures: Kentucky buried under winter storm
11:00
Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Multiple vehicles slide off Kansas City highway during winter storm
09:30
Katie Hawkinson
Mapped: Snowfall predictions across US as winter storm batters several states
08:00
Katie Hawkinson
Looking for snowfall forecasts and probabilities for certain amounts? Be sure to explore WPC's experimental Probabilistic Precipitation Portal at https://t.co/nNsROLQFxq. pic.twitter.com/P4ukCB0WGh
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 5, 2025
Video: See conditions around Lexington as the city is hit by a winter storm
06:30
Katie Hawkinson
Watch: DC mayor declares snow emergency ahead of major winter storm
05:01
Katie Hawkinson
Schools and government offices to remain closed in Philadelphia
05:00
Shweta Sharma
Schools and government offices have been ordered to remain closed in Philadelphia with more snow expected on Monday.
The School District of Philadelphia said it will remain closed Monday due to the expected winter storm.
Philadelphia is expected to see seven inches of snow Monday morning with temperature likely to drop to -6C.
Nearly 150,000 power outages in worst-hit US states
04:36
Shweta Sharma
Severe weather has left nearly 150,000 residents without electricity in Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana and Kentucky, according to Poweroutage.US.
Kentucky suffered the most power outages with 52,754 remaining without electricity.
Heavy snowfall has brought down trees, snapping power lines and blocking roads, further complicating restoration efforts.
Flights cancelled as arctic blast causes travel chaos
03:45
Shweta Sharma
Heavy snow and freezing rain are causing travel chaos for millions of commuters across the US, as well as in parts of Europe and the UK.
In the US more than 1,000 flights were cancelled and over 3,000 were delayed due to the sweeping wintry weather conditions yesterday.
The Kansas City international airport temporarily halted flight operations in the afternoon due to ice.
Dozens of flights were delayed, including a charter jet transporting the Kansas City Chiefs, before the runways reopened.
Kansas also shut down all state highways due to “impassable” conditions, according to the state’s Transportation Department. The closures included roughly 220 miles (354kms) of the state’s main artery, Interstate 70, from the Missouri border into central Kansas.
Hundreds of car accidents were reported across Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky. In Kentucky, a state trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries after his patrol car was struck on Interstate 65.
In Missouri, the highway patrol reported that at least 600 motorists were stranded.
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, who declared a state emergency ahead of the storm, said state buildings would be closed Monday.
“We see far too many wrecks out there for people that do not have to be on the roads, so I want to ask: Stay inside. Stay safe with your family,” the governor said.
Virginia State Police reported at least 135 crashes as the storm entered the state Sunday. A handful of injuries were reported.
Seven US states declare emergencies
03:35
Shweta Sharma
Seven US states have declared whole or partial states of emergency as a wintry blast of snow, ice and wind is expected to roil the region with the heaviest snowfall and lowest temperatures in over a decade.
More than 60 million Americans across 30 US states are under weather alerts, bracing for heavy snow and bitter cold on Monday.
Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri declared states of emergency, while New Jersey declared an emergency for several counties including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said bone-chilling arctic air is set to move in behind the storm front, with daytime temperatures on Monday and Tuesday predicted to be 10 to 20 degrees F below average from the Great Plains to the East Coast.
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 hit on Interstate 65. At least 600 motorists were stranded in Missouri, the state’s highway patrol said.
Watch: Governor Andy Beshear says Kentucky should expect major impacts from winter storm
03:30
Katie Hawkinson
Mapped: Winter storm’s path to mid-Atlantic
02:00
Katie Hawkinson
A major winter storm will produce significant snow and ice from the Central Plains through the Mid-Atlantic. Severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening from the Sabine River Valley into the lower Mississippi Valley. pic.twitter.com/CYJeFnvZL6
— National Weather Service (@NWS) January 5, 2025
In pictures: Cincinnati sees flurry of snow
00:30
Katie Hawkinson
Several states to face ‘extensive area of heavy snow,’ NWS says
Sunday 5 January 2025 23:00
Katie Hawkinson
Several states will face an “extensive area of heavy snow” from the winter storm tonight and Monday, the National Weather Service said.
Northern Missouri and the Central Appalachians could see up to 14 inches of snow while the mid-Atlantic — including the Washington, D.C. metro area — could see up to a foot of snow.
“Heavy freezing rain” will also hit the Mid-South overnight, which could cause widespread power outages and create dangerous road conditions.
Ice coats Louisville, threatening power outages
Sunday 5 January 2025 22:30
Katie Hawkinson
Louisville, Kentucky has been hit with “significant icing,” prompting concerns about road travel and threatening power lines.
There are more than 20,000 customers without power in Kentucky as of late Sunday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us. Meanwhile, about 30,000 customers are without power in nearby Missouri.
Unfortunately, you can see the glaze of ice in Warren County KY. Significant icing will create even more problems than just on the roads. Tree limbs and power lines are vulnerable too pic.twitter.com/Ryl2DbPSEO
— NWS Louisville (@NWSLouisville) January 5, 2025
More than 90% of flights leaving Kansas City airport canceled
Sunday 5 January 2025 22:00
Katie Hawkinson
Ninety-four percent of flights departing from Kansas City International Airport have been canceled as of late Sunday afternoon, according to FlightAware.
At the airport, 143 departing flights, along with 141 arriving flights, have been canceled so far today.
In pictures: Kentucky buried under winter storm
Sunday 5 January 2025 21:30
Katie Hawkinson
Dallas-Fort Worth airport sees almost 200 cancelations
Sunday 5 January 2025 21:15
Katie Hawkinson
Nearly 190 flights to and from Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport have been canceled today as severe winter weather disrupts travel across the country, according to FlightAware.
There have also been more than 1,000 delayed flights to and from the Texas airport.
This puts DFW as the airport with the third-most cancelations today, ranking just below Kansas City International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
The Dallas-Forth Worth area, along with most of Texas, is under a cold weather advisory due to a blast of Arctic air this week. “Feels like” temperatures will drop into single digits this week through much of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Watch: Multiple vehicles slide off Kansas City highway during winter storm
Sunday 5 January 2025 21:00
Katie Hawkinson
Tornado watches issued in multiple states
Sunday 5 January 2025 20:30
Katie Hawkinson
Intense thunderstorms are hitting the southern US, prompting tornado watches in areas of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas until 6 PM CST pic.twitter.com/VaGd4YcyUN
— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) January 5, 2025
Midwest airports see increasing cancelations amid storm
Sunday 5 January 2025 20:00
Katie Hawkinson
Three major midwest airports are seeing hundreds of cancelations as a winter storm system passes from the Central Plains to the mid-Atlantic, according to FlightAware.
Kansas City International Airport is leading in cancelations today, with more than 270 flights to and from the airport canceled as of Sunday afternoon. St. Louis Lambert International Airport is in second place, with nearly 250 flights to and from the airport canceled.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport is starting to see cancelations too, with just under 160 flights to and from canceled as of Sunday afternoon.
These three airports are leading the US in cancelations this afternoon, FlightAware reports.
Watch: Nation’s capital bracing for dangerous winter storm
Sunday 5 January 2025 19:30
Katie Hawkinson
Severe thunderstorms to hit southern US
Sunday 5 January 2025 19:00
Katie Hawkinson
