A massive winter storm swept through much of the United States on Sunday, dumping snow, ice, and plunging temperatures across more than a dozen states. With roughly 60 million people in its path, the storm brought blizzard-like conditions to areas from Kansas to New Jersey, with widespread travel disruptions.
The mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C., braced for heavy snow and freezing cold, coinciding with a crucial session of Congress to certify Donald Trump’s presidential election. Despite the weather chaos, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson assured that lawmakers would continue their duties, although federal offices in the capital were closed.
Kansas and northwestern Missouri were particularly hard-hit, with hazardous snow and ice turning roads into treacherous paths. Major highways, including Interstate 70 in Kansas, were shut down, and state police had to assist hundreds of stranded motorists across both states.
Snowfall totals were expected to reach up to 12 inches in some areas, while freezing rain and sleet created dangerous conditions in parts of Kentucky and West Virginia. The storm also sparked severe thunderstorms, threatening tornadoes in southern states like Arkansas and Alabama.
Air travel was severely impacted, with hundreds of flights canceled, including large numbers in Kansas City and St. Louis. Governors in several states declared emergencies, while an incoming arctic blast promised even lower temperatures for much of the country by Tuesday.
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