Washington, January 7, 2025 – The Europe Today: A powerful winter storm sweeping across a large portion of the United States has claimed at least five lives, caused significant travel disruptions, widespread power outages, and led to school closures. Seven states—Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas—have declared emergencies in response to the extreme weather.
The polar vortex, which typically circles the North Pole, has brought icy Arctic air to the U.S., resulting in hazardous conditions. According to Poweroutage.us, over 200,000 people were left without power on Monday night across states in the storm’s path. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast continued snow and sleet in the northeastern U.S. through Tuesday, followed by icy conditions expected to persist for weeks.
Travel has been severely affected, with more than 2,300 flights canceled and nearly 9,000 delays reported. Dangerous road conditions have been reported in several states:
- Missouri: The state’s highway patrol reported 365 crashes on Sunday, leaving dozens injured and at least one person dead.
- Kansas: Two fatalities were reported following a car crash during the storm.
- Virginia: Authorities reported 300 car crashes between midnight and Monday morning, with at least one motorist killed. Residents have been urged to avoid driving due to treacherous road conditions.
- Texas: In Houston, a person was found dead at a bus stop on Monday morning, likely due to exposure to the cold.
The storm has also blanketed the Washington, D.C., area, where lawmakers met Monday to certify Donald Trump’s November election victory. Snowfall ranged from 5 to 9 inches (13 to 23 cm), with up to a foot recorded in parts of Maryland and Virginia.
Officials across the affected regions are urging residents to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel, and prepare for extended cold conditions as emergency crews continue rescue and recovery efforts.
