An intense winter storm sweeping across the central United States has dumped over six inches of snow, accompanied by strong winds, leading to whiteout conditions. This severe weather led to the closure of sections of two major interstate highways and caused the shutdown of schools and government buildings in multiple states on Tuesday.
Forecaster Bob Oravec from the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, indicated that areas from southeastern Colorado to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could see up to 12 inches of snow. The storm is affecting regions including western Kansas, eastern Nebraska, substantial portions of Iowa, northern Missouri, and northwestern Illinois.
Athol, Kansas, in the north, recorded nearly 8 inches of snow on Monday. The weather service in Lincoln, Nebraska, forecasted an additional snow accumulation of 3-5 inches overnight, with wind gusts potentially reaching 40 mph.
In central Nebraska, whiteout conditions forced the closure of a significant segment of Interstate 80. Similarly, Interstate 70 in Kansas was shut down from Russell to the Colorado border due to perilous travel conditions, with several vehicles reported sliding off the road in the state’s northeastern area.
Government responses included the closure of federal courts in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, on Monday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also increased water flow at a Missouri River dam on the Nebraska-South Dakota border near Yankton to mitigate the risk of ice jams. City offices in Dubuque, Iowa, and schools in Cedar Rapids were closed on Tuesday due to the storm.
The inclement weather also disrupted political campaigning in Iowa ahead of the Jan. 15 precinct caucuses, with expectations of plummeting temperatures following the snow. Former President Donald Trump’s campaign had to cancel several events in Iowa, including appearances by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and her father, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Northern Missouri prepared for as much as a foot of snow as the system moved eastward. Kansas City, Missouri, announced the closure of City Hall on Tuesday and the switch to remote operations for municipal courts.
Madison, Wisconsin, faced a winter storm warning until early Wednesday, expecting up to 9 inches of snow and winds of 40 mph. The city suspended garbage collection to ease the passage of snowplows.
Northwestern Illinois was also under a winter storm warning, with projections of 7 to 12 inches of snow by early Wednesday. The Chicago area and Gary, Indiana, were advised to prepare for up to 6 inches of snow and wind gusts reaching 30 mph. The Illinois Tollway encouraged drivers to exercise caution on nearly 300 miles of toll roads.
In the Oklahoma panhandle, Cimmaron County emergency management advised residents to stay indoors, following the stranding of over a dozen motorists due to near-zero visibility conditions.
Lea Lavielle, the county’s emergency management director, advised individuals to shelter in place as best as possible.
Meanwhile, another storm was brewing, set to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, according to Oravec. Blizzard warnings were issued for the Cascade and Olympic ranges in Washington and Oregon.
