Four dead as a result of Winter Storm Blair
The severe weather is now responsible for another death. We previously reported 3 people in the US have been killed as a result of Blair, but that number is climbing.
Missouri State Police reported that another person was killed after getting hit by a dump truck sliding on a slick road in Jackson county.
Key events
More bad news for those traveling today, especially to and from Chicago.
A ground stop was issued at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on Monday morning by the Federal Aviation Administration. All flights were grounded until moments ago but a ground delay still remains in effect until 8pm this evening, with delays averaging more than two hours.
There have been 109 flight cancelations at O’Hare this morning.
Texas, which is all too familiar with power outages, now joins the growing list of states experiencing major power outages, with more than 14,000 customers affected. The Lone Star state is unique in that it has its own electrical grid.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which manage’s Texas’s power supply, issued a Weather Watch through Friday.
The state experienced one of the worst power outages on record during another winter storm in 2021 as a result of the combination of severe weather and failing infrastructure. More than 4m homes and businesses were without electricity.
Hundreds of thousands without power across the US as Winter Storm Blair hits hard
Poweroutage.us reports widespread power outages in six states, including:
Virginia: 109,432 customers
Kentucky: 83,939 customers
West Virginia: 49,177 customers
Illinois: 37,414 customers
Missouri: 33,955 customers
Three people dead as Winter Storm Blair hits US
Winter Storm Blair, as it is now being called, has already claimed three lives, according to the Weather Channel.
Two people were reportedly killed in a single-vehicle crash in Sedgwick County, Kansas on Sunday evening and a third person was killed as a result of the weather, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Zoos in affected states have made preparations for the extreme weather in order to protect the vulnerable animals.
The Louisville zoo in Kentucky wrote on X: “The Zoo is CLOSED today, January 5. Some animal, hospital and maintenance team members are preparing to camp out at the Zoo overnight! ❄️”
The Cincinnati zoo has also been closed since yesterday.
More than 100,000 people in Virginia are now without power as a result of the storm, according to poweroutage.us.
In Kentucky, nearly 90,000 customers are without power and in Indiana, just over 50,000 have lost power.
In West Virginia, 45,000 people are without power and in Illinois, just under 40,000 are experiencing outages.
Major winter storm hits US – what we know so far
A major winter storm is bringing snow, ice, strong winds, and rapidly dropping temperatures across the United States, leading to hazardous travel conditions stretching from the central and southern states to the east coast.
Some areas may experience their heaviest snowfall in a decade, according to warnings from the National Weather Service.
Here is what we know so far this morning.
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A state of emergency has been declared in seven states – Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas and parts of New Jersey.
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The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri to New Jersey.
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The freezing weather is being blamed on disturbances in the polar vortex.
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Schools and government offices in several states and areas are closed due to the storm.
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Already today, more than 1,000 flights in the US have been canceled.
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Snow and ice blanketed major roads across Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help stranded motorists.
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The White House is pressing on with plans for Joe Biden to travel to New Orleans today, despite the snowstorm.
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As of 8am ET this morning parts of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Arkansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia are under winter storm warnings.
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Winter Weather Advisories are in place for parts of New York, New Jersey, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia, Kentucky, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Vermont, Tennessee, Ohio, Arkansas and Indiana.
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The Missouri State Highway Patrol has reported more than 300 crashes, 31 injuries and one fatality as a result of the storm.
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Over 90,000 people in Kentucky are currently without power this morning.
In Virginia, where snow and sleet accumulations of 4 to 9in are expected in some areas, nearly 70,000 people are currently experiencing power outages, according to poweroutage.us.
The National Weather Service reports that parts of Virginia and West Virginia may see snowfall rates exceeding one inch per hour through mid-morning today.
After that, a break is expected from late morning through early afternoon, with occasional light snow, sleet, or freezing drizzle. Later this afternoon and into the evening, a second round of snow is likely.
Over 90,000 people in Kentucky are currently without power this morning, according to poweroutage.us, as the state remains under winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories.
In some areas of Kentucky, mixed precipitation with additional snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of up to one-tenth of an inch is expected, as well as power outages and tree damage due to the ice.
The National Weather Service in Kentucky warned on Monday morning that “travel could be impossible” and that “the hazardous conditions will affect the Monday morning and evening commutes.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has reported more than 300 crashes, 31 injuries and one fatality as a result of the storm.
In a post on social media, the highway patrol said that they are “working around the clock as the storm continues to impact roadways” and that they are receiving assistance from the Missouri National Guard.
As of 8pm local time on Sunday, the highway patrol had recorded 2,084 calls for service, 1,043 stranded motorists, 356 crashes, 31 injuries, and one fatality.
Snow is currently falling in the southern parts of New Jersey with the heaviest snowfall expected between 8am and 1pm ET.
The state’s Department of Transportation has urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and “if you do have to drive, give crews plenty of space to clear the road”.
Already today, more than 1,000 flights in the US have been canceled, according to FlightAware.com.
Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington DC, has the highest number of cancellations, with 237 flights departing from there canceled so far this morning.
At Baltimore/Washington International Aiport, 109 departing flights have been canceled.
Winter Weather Advisories are in place for parts of New York, New Jersey, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia, Kentucky, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Vermont, Tennessee, Ohio, Arkansas and Indiana.
Winter weather advisories mean that periods of snow, sleet, or freezing rain are expected and will likely cause travel difficulties.
As of 8am ET this morning parts of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Arkansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia are under winter storm warnings.
Winter Storm Warnings are issued for a significant winter weather event including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow or a combination of these hazards, according to the National Weather Service.
Travel will become difficult or impossible in some situations, and weather officials advise delaying travel plans until conditions improve.
