Winter storm slams 27 states as heavy snow, crippling ice create travel chaos, power outages

05:42

Major winter storm wallops more than a dozen states with snow, ice and power outages

Washington, D.C. is forecast to see 6 or more inches of snow through Monday as a winter storm approaches the Mid-Atlantic. Already the storm has created blizzard conditions and snarled traffic across parts of the Central U.S. FOX Weather's Robert Ray reports from Indianapolis and Steve Bender reports from Washington. 

The first significant winter storm of the year is endangering a 2,100-mile swath of the U.S. as it slams major cities like Kansas City, St. Louis and Indianapolis with heavy snow, blizzard conditions and crippling ice accretions that have led to power outages and chaos on the roads.

WINTER STORM LIVE TRACKER: SNOWFALL MAPS, CURRENT ALERTS, POWER OUTAGE FORECASTS

The potent system worked its way from the Northwest through the northern Rockies and central Plains during the first half of the weekend, hours after slamming the West Coast and even spawning the first tornado of the year in California.

Freezing drizzle arrived in the Wichita, Kansas, area on Saturday morning, turning roadways into sheets of ice and giving a preview of the headaches that loomed as the storm gained strength and moved off to the east.

NWS Wichita on a post on X on Jan. 4, 2025: "9:25 AM: Here is an example of what we are dealing with folks! An 18-wheeler sliding sidewards! STAY HOME!"

(NWS Wichita / FOX Weather)

DRIVING ON THE ICE AND DRIVING IN THE SNOW: WEATHER DRIVING TIPS FOR DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER

Travel chaos was also reported in Missouri, where the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) said that since Saturday afternoon, troopers have responded to nearly 670 calls for service and 176 crashes.

Blizzard conditions officially reached Kansas City International Airport on Sunday, after more than three hours with frequent 35 mph winds and visibility at or below a quarter-mile.

TRAVELING THIS WINTER? HERE'S WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR IN CASE YOU GET STUCK

---

 

Snowiest day for Kansas City in 15 years

This is the first time in several years that the Wichita and Kansas City metros were placed under a Blizzard Warning.

With 7 inches of snow by Sunday afternoon, downtown Kansas City had its snowiest day in 15 years.

00:18

Winter storm creates blizzard conditions in Topeka, Kansas

A blizzard Warning is in effect for Topeka and surrounding areas in eastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri unfil Monday morning. Video from the National Weather Service in Topeka shows blustery wind whipping snow outside the office. 

REMOVING ICE FROM YOUR WINDSHIELD CAN BE EASY - IF YOU DO IT THE RIGHT WAY

There have even been several reports of thundersnow, with FOX Weather Meteorologist Kendall Smith getting a firsthand look at bright lightning and rumbling thunder during one of her live reports on Sunday morning.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE THESE WINTER STORM HACKS IN YOUR PANTRY

00:14

Watch: Thundersnow startles FOX Weather Meteorologist Kendall Smith

FOX Weather Meteorologist Kendall Smith was reporting live from Kansas City, Missouri, when a bright flash of lightning illuminated the sky and loud thunder rumbled across the region.

Ice wreaks havoc, causes power outages to more than 100,000 customers

South of the heavy band of snow, ice is expected to be problematic and could accumulate to nearly an inch from southern Missouri through Kentucky and into West Virginia. The heavy glaze will likely lead to power outages, and due to the nature of the terrain, outages could last for an extended period.

The treacherous conditions also led to a serious crash involving a Kentucky State Police trooper on Sunday afternoon. According to state police, a trooper was hit on Interstate 65 in Warren County and was being treated at a local hospital for injuries described as non-life threatening.

This image shows a Kentucky State Police vehicle that was hit on Interstate 65 in Warren County on Sunday.

(@kystatepolice/X / FOX Weather)

According to PowerOutage.US, nearly 100,000 utility customers were without power across Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois as of Sunday evening.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told FOX Weather after receiving about six inches of snow, ice was the next concern for the commonwealth. 

"Many places in the Commonwealth are predicted to get more than a quarter inch of ice, some up to three-quarters of an inch of ice. That's enough to bring down power lines, to bring down tree limbs," Beshear said. "And our biggest concern is, is the loss of power, especially because of how cold it's going to be starting on Wednesday and through Thursday."

07:34

'Significant' snowfall, ice causes dangerous travel in Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joins FOX Weather to talk about the impacts from a major winter storm unfolding across the U.S., including power outages and vehicle crashes. These impacts are forecast to continue through Wednesday with more ice and bitter cold. 

Arctic air following the winter storm will keep a large part of the northern tier of the country below freezing for several days, causing additional hardships for those unprepared for the winter wallop.

7 WAYS TO PREVENT FROZEN WATER PIPES IN BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES

01:04

Watch: Heavy snow falls in Missouri as Blizzard Warning remains in effect in Camden Point

A video recorded in Camden Point, Missouri, shows heavy snow falling during a Blizzard Warning on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2024.

Washington Metropolitan prepares for treacherous travel conditions

Governors in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia declared states of emergency as snow and ice will spread to parts of the East Coast on Sunday and Monday. 

08:03

Washington under snow emergency as snow moves into Mid-Atlantic

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared snow emergency in the district ahead of a major winter storm. The DC metro area could see between 5 and 8 inches of snow. 

Virginia Department of Transportation officials said road conditions were already deteriorating on Sunday afternoon as snow moved into the commonwealth.

In Washington, D.C., a joint session of Congress is expected to gather on Monday to certify the 2024 election results. Additionally, the state funeral for President Jimmy Carter will continue as planned from Tuesday through Thursday.

00:12

Watch: Sleet falls in eastern Missouri as winter storm moves across US

Video recorded in Union, Missouri. shows sleet coating the ground and bushes in front of a home. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until Monday morning for the area.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) was activated on Sunday to coordinate the state's response to the incoming storm. In addition, Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb activated highway assistance teams from the Indiana National Guard to respond to some areas expecting dangerous road conditions.

"This activation brings additional subject matter experts from other state agencies and external partners into one location to facilitate an effective, direct and coordinated response to the winter storm impacting the state," officials said in a statement.

The Missouri National Guard also activated about 200 service members, operating stranded motorist patrols in the northern part of the state, while a debris clearance team stands by to clear downed trees in the mid and eastern parts of the state where ice is expected.

This graphic shows the forecast snow totals through Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024.

(FOX Weather)

The high-impact winter storm will bring snow and ice to portions of the I-95 corridor on Monday as the system continues to trek eastward. Major cities like Washington, D.C., and New York City will feel the impacts before it moves off the coast late Monday evening. Travel will become treacherous along I-95 from the mid-Atlantic through the Northeast.