Winter Storm Blair latest: Heavy snow hits US, bringing blizzard risk to Kansas

The Associated Press

‘Potentially life-threatening’ blizzard arrives in Kansas A blizzard warning has been issued for portions of central, south-central, south-west, and west-central Kansas due the severe weather.
Visibility may drop below 0.25 miles (0.4km) due to falling and blowing snow, with “whiteout conditions” expected, it adds.
Watch: Latest forecast as winter weather pushes across eastern US The winter storm is continuing to sweep its way eastwards across the US, bringing with it a mix of snow, strong winds and rain.
Airlines offer to waive flight change fees American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 46 airports due to the winter storm expected to sweep across the middle of the US and the east coast.
The polar vortex has been expanding over the US in recent days before the winter storm began to hit on Saturday evening.

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It might cause disruptions to Monday morning commutes.

Specifically in the Mid Atlantic region, the winter storm is expected to continue to cause disruptions through Monday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pittsburgh warns of disruption and states that heavy snow is predicted before the morning and evening commutes.

Ploughs will have a harder time clearing roads when there is a high rate of heavy snowfall. according to the service.

A “potentially life-threatening” blizzard hits Kansas.

Because of the severe weather, parts of central, south-central, south-west, and west-central Kansas are under a blizzard warning.

The “treacherous and potentially life-threatening” conditions have prompted the NWS to advise people to postpone all travel.

It also states that “whiteout conditions” are anticipated, with visibility potentially dropping below 0 to 25 miles (0 to 4 km) due to falling and blowing snow.

There will likely be an extra 2 inches (5 cm) of snowfall along with gusts of up to 45 mph (72 km/h).

The warning goes into effect right away and is in effect until Sunday at 18:00 local time (00:00 GMT on Monday).

A map of the regions under the warning has been made public by the NWS. outdoors.

A Kansas trooper warns people to stay at home due to icy roads.

To give an update on the storm that is sweeping across parts of the United States, Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardener ventured out into Kansas’ roads.

He claims that drivers have been driving too fast and that the road is extremely “slick.”.

He advises locals to stay at home and avoid the roads out of caution.

In the Midwest, flight cancellations and delays are common.

FlightAware, a tracking website, reports that 1,500 flights have been canceled and over 2,000 flights have been delayed in and out of the United States today.

Kansas City International Airport has the highest percentage of outbound flight cancellations (86 percent), according to the real-time data.

For flights arriving, St. With 7 percent of flights canceled and 53 percent of flights delayed as of 10:20 local time (16:20 GMT), Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri is at the top of the list.

Watch: The most recent forecast as the eastern United States experiences winter weather.

Snow, wind, and rain are all part of the winter storm that is still moving eastward across the United States.

Elizabeth Rizzini, the BBC weather presenter, warns of “really treacherous travelling conditions” throughout Sunday due to the heavy snowfall, especially in the storm’s northern areas.

As the storm moves southward, the air will get milder, which could result in thunderstorms.

Below is Elizabeth’s most recent forecast.

Expect a lot of snow in the Midwest and eastern United States.

At this point, we can show you a map that shows the storm’s path.

The snow is expected to heavily accumulate in major cities in the Midwest and eastern United States, including Indianapolis, Indiana, and Washington, DC. More than 8 inches (20 cm) of snow could fall on Kansas City, Missouri, which is currently under a blizzard warning.

Take a look at how frigid the storm’s path will be.

Although some parts of the US may experience the lowest temperatures in over ten years, what are the typical temperatures in the states that have been hardest hit?

Kansas, where temperatures are predicted to drop to -20°F (-29°C) or lower. According to NOAA, the average low temperature in January is 21 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius).

This week, Louisville, Kentucky, could see temperatures as low as 2F (-16C), down from an average low of 26F (-3C).

It is predicted that temperatures in Richmond, Virginia, will drop to 13°F (-10°C), while typical lows are around 28°F (-2°C).

This week, the typical low temperature in Arkansas is 33F (1C), but it could drop as low as 21F (-6C).

Furthermore, it may fall as low as 3F (-16C) in St. Louis, Missouri, which is significantly colder than the typical low of 23F (-5C).

How cold was January 2011?

This could be the coldest January in the United States since 2011, when average temperatures dropped to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 Celsius), as we have stated multiple times today.

According to a government climate report published at the time, this was the coolest January since 1994, with temperatures 0 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) below the 1901–2000 average.

New York City and Hartford, Connecticut broke January snowfall records during that month as a result of several winter storms that hit the northeastern United States.

Airlines offer to pay nothing for changes to flights.

Due to the winter storm that is predicted to swoop across the east coast and the middle of the United States, American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 46 airports.

From Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Kansas and Missouri, the alert applies to airports in a number of states. The airline has released a comprehensive list of requirements for ticket modifications. outside.

Due to possible flight disruptions, American says it might be able to waive change fees for customers traveling to and from those airports.

Similar services have been provided to customers by United, Delta, and Southwest airlines.

Kansas will see bitterly cold winds, with lows of -29C predicted.

Parts of central Kansas are expected to experience bitterly cold wind chills over the next few days as a winter storm moves across the United States.

Wind chills of -20F (-29C) and lower are predicted by the National Weather Service (NWS) branch in Wichita, a significant city in south-central Kansas.

The NWS posted a weather map on X that shows that the cities of Russell and Salina will experience some of the coldest winds on Monday morning.

Temperatures are already dropping elsewhere.

According to a different post, NWS Washington reports that at its office close to Dulles Airport, a significant international travel hub close to downtown Washington, DC, it recorded lows of 13.7F (-10C).

As blizzards are predicted by NWS, the storm will persist until Tuesday.

Snowfall of at least 15 inches (38 and a half cm), the most in ten years, is predicted, making travel “extremely hazardous” and drastically reducing visibility.

In addition, there may be blizzards and strong wind gusts of up to 40 mph (64 km/h).

According to the forecast, the storm will move eastward from the Midwest and central United States on Sunday, arriving in the Mid Atlantic region by this evening.

The NWS adds that the storm will continue to cause disruption until Monday before starting to lessen by Tuesday morning.

As a reminder, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri are the five states that have so far proclaimed a state of emergency.

A polar vortex: what is it?

The polar vortex, which is a region of cold air that circulates the Arctic, is causing the extreme weather, according to forecasters.

The polar vortex typically remains high around the North Pole, but it can move and enlarge, bringing lower-than-normal temperatures farther south.

Before the winter storm hit on Saturday night, the polar vortex had been spreading over the United States in recent days.

A combination of snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures are predicted as it moves eastward over the next few days.

The storm may deliver the coldest temperatures and most snowfall since 2011.

Tens of millions of Americans could be impacted by the massive winter storm, which could bring the least amount of snow and the coldest temperatures in more than ten years.

The storm began in the center of the United States and is expected to move eastward over the next few days, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Dan DePodwin, an AccuWeather forecaster, stated: “The United States may experience its coldest January since 2011.”. “,”.

It may last for a week, he continued, with “temperatures that are well below historical average.”.

By Sunday night, the storm is predicted to reach the east coast, which will also experience those low temperatures.

Several US states have declared states of emergency.

States of Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri have declared a state of emergency, and areas of the United States like Mississippi and Florida that are not used to extreme cold have been alerted to the possibility of dangerous conditions.

Since the storm is predicted to move eastward across the nation, 30 states have been placed under a weather alert.

Cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, are bracing for icy and snowy conditions on Sunday and Monday.

The National Weather Service predicts extremely dangerous weather.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that there will be “considerable disruptions to daily life” as well as “dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures” throughout the central United States.

Furthermore, blizzards can occur in some areas of the Midwest.

The NWS issued a warning, stating that “whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded.”.

One state high patrol trooper has advised people to stay at home due to the worsening road conditions, as we previously reported.

Because of the possible disruptions to their flights, American, Delta, Southwest, and United airlines are waiving change fees for passengers.

The US is on high alert due to a severe winter storm.

Matt Spivey. .

Real-time page editor.

With 30 states under weather alerts, the US is preparing for a severe winter storm that could bring the coldest temperatures and the most snowfall since 2011. Welcome to our live coverage.

Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia have all declared states of emergency.

According to state highway patrol trooper Ben Gardner, road conditions have already gotten worse, with bad weather causing collisions between cars and trucks and a fire truck rolling over in Kansas.

Warnings have been issued for dangerous conditions in areas of the United States like Mississippi and Florida that are not used to extreme cold.

Millions more Americans will experience record-low temperatures as the storm moves east, according to forecasters.

Follow us to get the most recent information as it becomes available.

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