60 million brace for snow, ice, and freezing temps as winter storm sweeps central US
National Weather Service (NWS) from Kansas and Missouri to New Jersey, with snow accumulations predicted to reach up to 14 inches (35.6 centimetres) in certain regions, particularly in Kansas and northern Missouri.
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Forecasters have predicted that the storm’s impacts will continue through the weekend, with severe disruptions to daily life. The NWS has urged the public to take extreme caution, with travel expected to be “very difficult to impossible” in some areas. The polar vortex, which typically stays confined to the Arctic, has shifted southward, bringing extreme cold to a wide swath of the US.
Travel Chaos and Hazardous Road Conditions
As the storm intensifies, the central US is facing significant travel disruptions. The NWS has warned that snow and ice will create dangerous conditions on the roads, with some areas reporting nearly impassable highways. In Kansas, where snow totals could exceed 14 inches, an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 70 was closed on Saturday due to blizzard conditions, reducing visibility and making travel nearly impossible. State Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner posted a video on social media showing icy conditions on the roads, warning drivers, “We are in it now,” as he slid across the highway.
Freezing rain in Wichita, Kansas, has led to multiple car accidents,
