Arctic blast and thunderstorms hit the south as snow, ice disrupt travel throughout US: Live updates
An arctic blast is battering the southern US as a brutal winter storm blows from the Ohio River Valley to the mid-Atlantic on Sunday overnight into Monday.
The storm has disrupted travel, bringing heavy snow, ice and wind to the eastern two-thirds of the US. Hundreds of flights have been canceled across airports in the Midwest, and officials in several states are pleading with residents to keep off the roads unless there’s an emergency. Widespread power outages are likely.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade,” the NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center said in a statement.
Meanwhile, arctic 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 Florida.
Severe thunderstorms are also barreling through the Mid-South, prompting tornado watches in areas of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas Sunday afternoon.
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.
“This winter storm will likely cause significant disruption and dangerous conditions on our roads and could cause significant power outages – just 24 hours before it gets dangerously cold,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a statement.
In pictures: Cincinnati sees flurry of snow
Katie Hawkinson6 January 2025 00:30
Several states to face ‘extensive area of heavy snow,’ NWS says
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.
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 23:00
Ice coats Louisville, threatening power outages
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.
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 22:30
More than 90% of flights leaving Kansas City airport canceled
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.
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 22:00
In pictures: Kentucky buried under winter storm
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 21:30
Dallas-Fort Worth airport sees almost 200 cancelations
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.
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 21:15
Watch: Multiple vehicles slide off Kansas City highway during winter storm
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 21:00
Tornado watches issued in multiple states
Intense thunderstorms are hitting the southern US, prompting tornado watches in areas of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 20:30
Midwest airports see increasing cancelations amid storm
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.
Katie Hawkinson5 January 2025 20:00
