A massive winter storm, Storm Blair, has swept across the United States, prompting seven states—Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, and parts of New Jersey—to declare states of emergency. The storm, driven by a polar vortex bringing frigid air from the Arctic, has placed over 60 million Americans under weather alerts.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of blizzard conditions, with the storm delivering up to a foot of snow in several areas. Kansas City experienced its heaviest snowfall in 32 years, with meteorologist Matthew Cappucci reporting, “more than a foot (30 to 40cm) has come down so far.” He added, “The ploughs are getting stuck, the police are getting stuck, everybody’s getting stuck—stay home.”
According to reports, over 1,700 flights has been cancelled and around 8,300 flights delayed as of Sunday due to the storm. Amtrak also cancelled numerous train services. Major airlines like American, Delta, Southwest, and United have waived change fees for affected passengers. Roads are devastated with multiple accidents, including a fire engine rollover near Salina, Kansas. The NWS cautioned people, “Whiteout conditions will make travel extremely hazardous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded.”
Despite the storm’s gradual movement towards the east coast, areas like Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and Delaware are bracing for its impact. The NWS forecasts this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade. AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin noted, “This could lead to the coldest January for the US since 2011,” with temperatures plunging 12-25°F (7-14°C) below average.
The storm’s timing coincides with the US Congress meeting to certify Republican Donald Trump’s presidential election. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson assured that the weather would not disrupt the proceedings, though federal offices in Washington DC will remain closed.
Further north, Canada is also under severe weather alerts. Manitoba faces wind chills as low as -40°C, and Ontario expects up to 15 inches (38cm) of snow. Snow squalls and strong winds have exacerbated the already harsh conditions.
Severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes are expected to move east from Arkansas and Louisiana into Mississippi and Alabama. Private meteorologist Ryan Maue described the storm as “a potential disaster,” warned that, “This is something we haven’t seen in quite a while.”
#WinterStormBlair #PolarVortex #USWeather #Snowstorm2025 #StaySafe
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